The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is thrilled to be presenting the 2026 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, there will be 10 available mentorships. Exact start dates will be jointly determined and agreed upon by the mentor and mentee.
There is a ten to twelve (10–12) hour commitment to the mentorship for both mentors and mentees; six to eight (6–8) hours of which will be spent together in one-on-one meeting(s). The start date will be jointly determined and agreed upon by the mentee and the mentor, with the main parameters being the eight-hour time commitment of both parties and the completion date of June 30, 2026.
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.
Please note that there are 10 available mentorships and all mentors and mentees must be based in Canada. Due to this, not all applicants will be selected to participate in 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.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications is April 15, 2026.
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.
2026 Participating Mentors
- Sandra E. Martin — Standards Editor at The Globe and Mail.
- Minelle Mahtani — Scholar, broadcaster with bylines in The Walrus, THIS Magazine, Geist, Maisonneuve, and author of May it Have a Happy Ending.
- Maryam Siddiqi — Award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist who explores trends at the intersection of travel, culture, social impact and sustainability.
- Arvin Joaquin — Award-winning journalist, editor, and producer at OMNI News Filipino with experience in newsroom leadership and digital and broadcast news production.
- Navneet Alang — Award-winning columnist and journalist focusing on food and drink, tech, and culture, and Team Editor at the Toronto Star.
- Andrea Yu — Freelance food and culture journalist published in national and international outlets.
- Adrian Ma — Journalist, author and documentary producer, currently teaching at Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Creative School.
- Saman Malik — Award-winning director, producer, writer and investigative journalist with more than a decade of experience at CBC News.
- Hannah Yakobi — Co-founder and editor-in-chief of FAJO Magazine, specializing in fashion and cultural journalism.
- Matthew DiMera — Award-winning editor and journalist, founder of The Resolve, focusing on Black Canadian stories.
- Richard Van Camp (Tłı̨chǫ/Dogrib Dene) — Bestselling author, storyteller, and editor.
- Nehal El-Hadi — Science and environment editor at The Conversation Canada, with a focus on equity in research and reporting.
- Hollay Ghadery — Writer, editor, and literary mentor with a focus on memoir, poetry, and cultural commentary.
- Jennifer Nguyen — Freelance writer and editor with expertise in lifestyle, health, and culture.
- Manal Aman — Freelance lifestyle writer and content creator.
*Note: This list is subject to change. Additional participating mentors to be confirmed.
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.
