杏吧原创

Canada鈥檚 first journalism program is launching its first-ever lecture series named for a woman.

The will feature leading women and non-binary journalists from historically under- and mis-represented communities, who will share their stories and expertise.

鈥溞影稍�创鈥檚 first journalism class took place in October 1945. The first Mary Ann Shadd Cary Lecture is scheduled to take place 80 years later, in October 2025,鈥� Trish Audette-Longo, an assistant professor in the journalism program, said.聽

鈥淭his is an opportunity to celebrate and centre women and non-binary journalists鈥� work, and to give students in our undergraduate and graduate programs opportunities to meet some of their heroes.鈥�

The lecture series is named for Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first Black woman publisher in North America and the first woman publisher in Canada. In 1853, Shadd Cary founded The Provincial Freeman.聽

鈥淢ary Ann was known for her impressive lectures, and for speaking the truth to audiences who sought change, but didn鈥檛 always understand her because she was an outspoken woman,鈥� said Nana aba Duncan, the Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity, and Inclusion Studies and the founder of the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging at 杏吧原创 University.

鈥淚t has been my mission to make sure our industry recognizes and honours her legacy in journalism. Launching a lecture in her name 鈥� at Canada鈥檚 oldest journalism institution 鈥� is the perfect way to do it.鈥�

Shadd Cary鈥檚 pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to supporting and advancing Black communities, education, and women鈥檚 rights through journalism laid the foundation for a more inclusive and just society. Her example will guide the selection of invited speakers, who will deliver public lectures at 杏吧原创 University.

The Mary Ann Shadd Cary Lecture Series will be a cornerstone initiative led by the and journalism faculty in 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 School of Journalism and Communication.

The new lecture joins a pair of long-standing annual series in the school. The annual Kesterton Lecture is named for Wilfred Kesterton, one of the journalism school鈥檚 first graduates and faculty members. The annual Peter Stursberg Foreign Correspondents Lecture commemorates Stursberg, who reported on the ground during the Second World War, becoming the 鈥渧oice of the frontline.鈥�

But the Annual Mary Ann Shadd Cary Lecture will look different from other public lecture series.聽

Journalism students will be hired and trained to join guest speakers on stage, where they will ask their own questions and moderate audience questions.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary lecturers will also deliver small workshops or seminars in journalism classes.聽

To make this possible, Audette-Longo and Duncan have launched and aim to raise $55,000 by March 31, 2025 to fund the first four years of the lecture series.聽

Audette-Longo said the lecture series will provide students with hands-on learning and more opportunities to imagine themselves doing journalism in the future.聽

鈥淲e have a wish list of established, award-winning, brilliant journalists we hope to bring to 杏吧原创, to talk about how they cover the stories that matter in their communities, in the world, in politics, on climate 鈥� there is so much to take on, and I鈥檓 so excited,鈥� she said.聽

Duncan emphasized the significance of this event, particularly as efforts to shut down programs focused on inclusion and diversity continue to grow.聽

“This is not the time to pause the work,” she stated. “On the contrary, now is when we double down and intensify our focus on people from historically underrepresented and misrepresented communities.”

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Thursday, November 28, 2024 in General, Journalism Events, Journalism News, News, Special Events
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