The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is thrilled to be presenting the fourth annual BIPOC Mentorship Program. This program is designed to equip early- and mid-career BIPOC publishing professionals in Canada with the skills and support they need to succeed in industry-specific leadership positions, by pairing them with a senior publishing professional.
Mentees will learn directly from a senior publishing leader through collaborative one-on-one meetings on the specific subject area of their choice. Mentors will be Canada-based senior industry leaders with at least 10+ years of experience, and will be NMAF award-winning creators or have award-winning publication experience. They will assist in developing the mentee’s leadership skills and identifying career goals and opportunities, while also sharing personalized guidance, publishing best practices and professional development opportunities.
Program Details
This year, we have 10 Canada-based mentorships available. The program will run from February to May 2025. Exact start dates will be jointly determined and agreed upon by the mentor and mentee.
There is a ten- to twelve-hour commitment to the mentorship for both mentors and mentees. Six to eight of these hours will be spent together in one-on-one meeting(s), and the remaining hours may be spent as both the mentor and mentee see fit.
In an effort to provide as much flexibility as possible for both the mentor and the mentee, the structure of the mentorship can be determined by the mentor based on the specified needs of the mentee, or as a collaborative process between the mentor and mentee. For example, participants can jointly decide on a single, full-day session or multiple sessions. Mentorship meetings can take place in-person, by telephone, or virtually.
On completion of the mentorship, both the mentor and mentee will be required to complete a brief individual survey to provide the NMAF with feedback about their experience and to help improve the program going forward.
There are up to 10 mentorships for Canada-based publishing professionals planned for the 2025 program. Due to this, not all applicants will be accepted into the program this year.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Mentorship?
The NMAF Mentorship Program is open to early- or mid-career publishing professionals who demonstrate a high degree of craft and promise within the magazine and digital publishing industry. Applicants must be based in Canada and identify as Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour. Applicants must also be 21 or older by January 3, 2025.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications has been extended to mid-January!
You will be asked to:
- Provide a brief outline of your experience and/or career to date
- Briefly tell us:
- About your career goals for the next year, and how a mentorship would help you reach those goals.
- What you hope to gain from the mentorship.
- The main topic(s) and area(s) of publishing management in which you seek mentorship, and what you’d like your mentor to focus on. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to) operations and management, content development, and marketing and sales.
Mentorship applications will be reviewed by the NMAF. Upon approval of a mentorship application, the mentee will be matched with a senior mentor who can help with the topic and goals they have identified.
2025 Participating Mentors
- Sadiya Ansari — Senior editor and journalist whose work spans global politics, migration, and Canadian culture.
- Chantal Braganza — Toronto-based editor and journalism trainer with experience in newsrooms and media education.
- Ashley Okwuosa — Reporter and editor covering equity, justice, and international development.
- Nehal El-Hadi — Science and environment editor at The Conversation Canada, with a focus on equity in research and reporting.
- Hannah Yakobi — Co-founder and editor-in-chief of Façon Magazine, specializing in fashion and cultural journalism.
- Jennifer Nguyen — Freelance writer and editor with expertise in lifestyle, health, and culture.
- Maryam Siddiqi — Lifestyle editor at The Globe and Mail, covering travel, culture, and design.
- Matthew DiMera — Award-winning editor and journalist, founder of The Resolve, focusing on Black Canadian stories.
- Andrea Yu — Freelance food and culture journalist published in national and international outlets.
- Richard Van Camp (Tłı̨chǫ/Dogrib Dene) — Bestselling author, storyteller, and editor who mentored three participants.
- Hollay Ghadery — Writer, editor, and literary mentor with a focus on memoir, poetry, and cultural commentary.
Questions?
If you have any questions or require more information, please contact staff@magazine-awards.com.
This program is made possible with the support of Ontario Creates and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
