Winnipeg Indigenous Investigative Reporter

Location: Winnipeg, MB

Salary: $60,000-$73,500

Deadline: February 23rd, 5 pm EST

The Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) is a nonprofit newsroom focused on public interest journalism. We are a new kind of media outlet, built around databases on who donates to politicians across Canada, who lobbies them, and how the government spends your money.

The IJF is rapidly growing and is proud to be named one of the world’s most innovative media companies by Fast Company magazine. We were also selected for Fast Forward’s accelerator for tech non-profits, won an Anthem Award for our Open By Default database, two gold medals at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards and the Product of the Year award from LION Publishers.

As a nonprofit, nonpartisan media outlet, our primary purpose is to serve the public. We do this by publishing in-depth investigative journalism that speaks truth to power. Our databases are also used by other journalists, policymakers and academics seeking to increase transparency and strengthen Canadian democracy.

This role is funded by a Changing Narratives Fund grant. The Changing Narratives Fund is a distinct stream under the Local Journalism Initiative that seeks to cultivate a media landscape that authentically reflects the diversity of Canada’s peoples, experiences, and cultures. The purpose of the fund is to support Indigenous Peoples, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minorities, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives, allowing their voices to be accurately and authentically represented in the media and culture sectors in Canada.

The successful candidate's salary will be paid partially from the Local Journalism Initiative’s Changing Narrative Fund and partially from the IJF.

Please note: Based on grant eligibility requirements, this role is limited to a reporter who self-identifies as Indigenous or as another member of the Changing Narratives Fund priority communities, and is located in or around the Winnipeg area. We encourage applications from emerging or early-career journalists. Successful applicants will be asked to submit a self-identification form according to funding guidelines.

We are looking for a journalist who has an interest and expertise in municipal Indigenous civic affairs, politics and government at all levels. The successful candidate will devote 40 hours per week to helping to expand and report on Winnipeg-specific civic Indigenous municipal affairs, as well as the IJF’s public-interest databases, including political donations, lobbying, and procurement disclosure databases. Specifically, the reporter will also connect with Indigenous Winnipeg residents and tell their stories of the residential school system, supported by the data in our Residential Schools: the Hidden Stories database.

We’re happy to hear from candidates based in and around Winnipeg, Manitoba. Successful candidates will be excited about working with a mission-driven nonprofit that uses journalism to strengthen Canadian democracy every day.

Please fill out this form. It will ask you for your CV and a cover letter telling us how your skills are a fit for the IJF’s mission, as well as links to three stories you reported of which you’re particularly proud. With the links, please include a few sentences outlining what role you played in the story and how it best demonstrates you have the skills outlined in the “we’re looking for someone with” section above. 

Not sure you’re qualified for this job? Please apply anyway. We’re looking for talented people who share our passion for making Canada a better place. Experience matters less than a desire to learn and grow. We’re committed to building an inclusive environment.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

— The IJF team