Community Journalist - Secwepemcúl’ecw

Discourse Community Publishing (DCP) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full time, one-year contract community journalist position based in Secwepemcúl’ecw, helping to serve the community through DCP's Kamloops, B.C. (Tk’emlúps) based outlet, The Wren. This position is funded through the federal Local Journalism Initiative.

As the purpose of this role is to tell stories based in Secwepemcúl’ecw, preference will be given to those with connections to Secwépemc Peoples. 

DCP is a growing network of community news outlets dedicated to contributing to a more sustainable and equitable news ecosystem. This position lends the opportunity to learn from, contribute to and be supported by our shared digital newsroom including The Discourse Cowichan, Nanaimo, and Comox; IndigiNews; The Wren; Sun Peaks Independent News; and the Revelstoke Mountaineer. We are guided by these 10 principles.

DCP aims to build an inclusive and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and is working to attract and support candidates from diverse communities and backgrounds. Women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Compensation will be based on experience starting at $50,000 annual salary, a $70,000 full-time equivalent as DCP currently operates on a four- day work week (32 hours from Monday to Thursday). DCP offers extended health and dental benefits, for yourself and your immediate family, as well as life and travel insurance. This position also offers three weeks paid vacation, in addition to bonus paid time off over the winter holiday period.

The community journalist role focuses on producing quality local journalism for Secwépemc communities through weekly reported stories and newsletters. General working hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday, however some flexibility outside those hours is required for news coverage and community engagement activities.

We are a looking for:

• You are from an Indigenous community, understand the nuance of Indigenous protocols, and prioritize engaging respectfully with Indigenous people


• You have an understanding of Canada’s colonial history, institutions and ongoing practices and the impacts of systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples and communities


• You’re familiar with Indigenous governance systems in the areas we serve and/or your own Nation


• A connection to and knowledge of Secwépemc Peoples, communities, organizations and residents 


• You understand the TRC’s Call to Action for the media and you have experience producing stories that centre Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives and the issues impacting them


• You know how to respectfully create new connections with community members and organizations


• A passion to provide readers and communities with meaningful, original and in-depth reporting on issues that matter to residents


• The desire to be part of an independent media organization dedicated to helping to shape the future of community news


• A dedication to serving underrepresented communities and peoples in our region


• A demonstrated ability to produce accurate and engaging news articles for online mediums


• A history of working independently with strong time management and prioritization skills and the ability to meet deadlines


• The desire to contribute to a positive newsroom environment and collaborative work culture

Additional assets include:

• Experience in research, freedom-of-information requests, interviewing, writing, copy-editing, fact-checking, social media, newsletters, photography and videography


• Digital skills and experience in Wordpress, Mailchimp, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, Canva, GSuite, Slack, Asana, and various social media platforms


• Experience in audience development, community engagement and event planning

Please complete the below application, including resume by Sept. 20, 2024. 

(This deadline was extended on Sept. 3, 2024)

If you worry you’re not qualified, take the leap and apply anyway!