A collaboration between The Toronto Star and the National Institute for Ageing creates new opportunities for journalists and journalism students

The National Institute on Ageing is collaborating with the Toronto Star to develop a program and competition for early- to mid-career journalists interested in reporting on aging. 

The National Institute on Ageing is a research centre based at Toronto Metropolitan University that works with governments, health care systems, the financial sector, businesses and communities to improve outcomes for older adults across Canada. 

Journalists can apply to become a Journalism in Ageing fellow or apply to research a relevant issue and be eligible for one of the five Journalism in Ageing Prize (external link) s.  

The institute explains the purpose of their research on their site:

“There needs to be a rethink by governments, institutions and individuals to reframe our later years as a time when older adults can both truly flourish and contribute, rather than continuing to think of them largely as a period of decline and growing dependency.” 

The Chair of the School of Journalism, Ravidra Mohabeer, sees opportunities for young journalists, such as journalism students, too.

“The Canadian population, like many nations across the world, is ageing. Today and into the foreseeable future, thinking about ageing isn't a 'special interest' so much as a contextual lens that journalists will need,” he said. 

Students who are pursuing their studies full-time may be better suited to attempt the prize competition, where five journalists will each be awarded $5000 to “conduct a journalism project on the topic of ageing”. The successful applicants will have one year to complete their projects, with the guidance of Toronto Star reporters and researchers at the National Institute on Ageing.  

Students will “have valuable exposure to the latest research and a variety of avenues for applied journalism experiences,” Mohabeer adds.

Students’ pitches can be feature stories, investigations, videos, photo essays and podcasts. The winning pieces are to be published in the Toronto Star. 

The fellowship is oriented towards mid-career journalists with at least three years of experience. The fellowship will look like full-time employment with TMU, while closely working with the Institute and the Toronto Star. 

All the reporting projects will be part of the “Third Act”, published by the Toronto Star. On its site, the institute states the benefits of the work created through its partnership with TMU and The Toronto Star:

“The Toronto Star, the National Institute on Ageing and Toronto Metropolitan University have partnered to focus on better understanding and advocating for federal, provincial and municipal policy and societal changes on issues that can better support all older adults, upholding the value of life and enabling people to thrive throughout their ‘Third Act’.”

If students are interested in applying they can find out more here  (external link) or ask their instructor about the opportunity.