Today, Investintech is excited to announce that the fourth annual Investintech – CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship is now open and accepting applications for 2022-2023.
This scholarship is an opportunity aimed at helping post-secondary Canadian students who are interested in furthering their data-driven skills and pursuing a career in journalism with the financial help and support they need to succeed.
If you think you have a piece of journalistic work worthy of the scholarship prize, apply this year and become the next annual Investintech – CAJ Journalism Scholarship winner.
Here’s what you need to know to apply.
About The Investintech – CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship
The Investintech-CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship contest is open to students who show an interest in data journalism and who are enrolled in a post-secondary Canadian educational institute at the time of their application submission.
It comes with a $1,000 cash-prize going towards your tuition, a free one year membership with the CAJ, a free registration pass to the 15th anniversary summer data school from June 26 to 30 at the University of King’s College in Halifax and the opportunity to showcase your work with data journalist professionals.
To ensure you get the best journalistic support out of this scholarship, we’ve partnered with the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). It is one of the most credible and authoritative organizations for journalists in Canada. Every year, the CAJ organizes a national conference, a chance for journalists across the country to network and discover new resources to boost their careers.
The winning submission will be picked by a Selection Jury of experienced, award-winning data journalists. Our three jury members have reported for authoritative media outlets and all teach data techniques at the post-secondary level. They’ll review and vet your work according to the standards set by the Canadian journalism industry.
Applying For The Investintech – CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship
Eligibility
Eligible students must meet the following requirements:
- Pursuing a course of studies or program leading to a diploma, undergraduate or graduate degree.
- Currently accepted to or enrolled in a college or university in Canada.
- Non-journalism program students may apply, but will need to show evidence of their journalism skills, such as having a published news story, or working for a college publication, etc.
Submissions
Submitted work can be a piece of work published in a student, local, alternative or mainstream media, an analysis or complex visualization you completed as a class assignment or an in-depth analysis published on a personal blog. It must be a story that reveals new information, or provides richer context for the data provided.
- Work must have been produced within one calendar year of the scholarship closing date.
- A single submission of individual work is preferred. If the submitted item is produced as part of a team of two or more, the applicant must submit a detailed explanation about their contribution and their own proof of work.
- Previous winners are not eligible to apply.
The submission must include:
- Your story: An example of a work of journalism that shows the application of data skills (e.g. use of spreadsheets, web scraping, use of mapping tools).The submissions must include at least one data visualization (e.g. a map or a chart) produced by the student.
- Your methodology: An explanation of what you did, how you did it, and why you did it, including the resources and/or tools you used and how the data was compiled. For submissions that were produced as part of a team, applicants must explain their role, the skills they used in fulfilling that role, and the specific parts of the story, or stories, that their contribution influenced.
The winner of the scholarship will be one Canadian student whose submission shows a keen interest and in-depth understanding of data journalism tools and techniques and why they are used, and if possible, what tools are the best fit for certain stories.
The deadline for submissions is April 28, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
Submission Judgement Guidelines
All submitted work will be reviewed by the Selection Jury. To find out more about each member on the jury, visit our Data Journalism Scholarship Selection Jury page to meet the journalists who will be reviewing your work.
After meeting eligibility and submission requirements, the jury will focus mainly on the quality of your work. Eligible submissions will undergo a two-week review period after which the Selection Jury will create a shortlist of top candidates and select the winning recipient.
The Selection Jury will review your submissions according to these guidelines:
- Follow all submission rules and complete full details
- Submissions must be in English or in French
- Minimum word count for written parts of the submission: 500
- Previously published material can be submitted
- Restricted to students enrolled in a Canadian university or college
- Creativity and style; coherence and readability.
- Inclusion of major sources (authoritative sources linked to back claims)
- Effective use of data, visualizations, and/or medium being used
- Strength of the topic and the applicant’s work
The winner will be announced on May 16th, 2023 on our blog, social media, and on our winner’s page. Both Investintech and the CAJ will contact the winner directly to formally inform the student and confirm details on the delivery of prizes.
Award Prizes
Here’s what you can win as the 2022 – 2023 Investintech – CAJ Scholarship recipient:
- One-time cash prize of $1,000 CAD
- One year free CAJ membership
- One free registration pass to the King’s College Summer Data School in 2023
Dates & Deadlines
- Annual deadline for submissions: April 28, 2023
- Review timeframe: May 1 – May 12, 2023
- Announcement date: May 16, 2023
- Award date for 2022-23 scholarship year: May 17, 2023
Enter your submission by visiting our Investintech – CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship page, and clicking on the Submit Your Application button where you’ll be directed to the online submission form.
Please visit the Terms and Conditions page on our website for complete rules and policies on the scholarship.
Have a data journalism story in the works? If you’re looking to take a step into the journalism industry, then submit your application today.
Good Luck to all!
*NOTE: It is at the sole discretion of the CAJ whether or not to provide or determine a suitable substitution prize.