DJ News Corps
Toronto Downtown Jazz (TDJ) is pleased to announce the creation of the TDJ News Corps, an initiative geared towards post-secondary students in journalism, arts criticism and musicology. Successful applicants to the TDJ News Corps program will get important, hands-on experience in their chosen field of study – writing reviews and interviews, meeting veteran journalists and working with mentors. TDJ News Corps members will be given full media accreditation for the festival, granting them unprecedented access to the festival – attending selected concerts for free, interviewing artists and experiencing the festival from behind the scenes.
Eligibility
Applicants to the TDJ News Corps program must be enrolled in a post-secondary journalism, arts criticism or musicology program at a Greater Toronto Area university or college. The TDJ News Corps is open to part-time and full-time students.
Program Outline
- The application deadline is March 15; results will be announced by March 31.
- A maximum of 5 TDJ News Corps members will be selected.
- All applicants must be available for the full duration of the 25th TD Toronto Jazz Festival, June 24 to July 3.
- The TDJ News Corps program is a volunteer program – Toronto Downtown Jazz offers no remuneration or reimbursement of any kind for articles. However, TDJ News Corps members are free to seek financial agreements with external media outlets.
- Successful applicants will be invited to our April 5th live-to-air media conference at JAZZ.FM91, and will be granted full media accreditation for the festival.
- Successful applicants will be granted access to artists, when possible, in advance of the festival. For example – TDJ News Corps members will be invited to interview the artists involved with the two TDJ Special Projects in April, 2011.
- Each TDJ News Corps member is assigned to a mentor, who will help with tips on writing about the arts, interview skills, and career advice.
- TDJ News Corps members are expected to post reviews/interviews on the TDJ News Corps page at torontojazz.com within 24 hours of the show/interview; failure to do so will result in a revocation of privileges.
- TDJ will provide TDJ News Corps members with a list of resources – media outlets (print and online), important contacts, etc. – but each member is expected to make his or her own contacts. TDJ does not guarantee publication in any outside outlet.
- TDJ News Corps members are treated like any other member of the media, and are expected to follow the accepted protocol when it comes to getting access to concerts, artists, etc. A full orientation will be offered in advance of the festival.
- TDJ News Corps members are expected to meet the highest professional standard in their articles, reviews and interviews. TDJ reserves the right to edit all material before it is posted at torontojazz.com.
Mentors
Each TDJ News Corps member will be assigned one mentor. TDJ recommends that each mentor make available one hour per week for meetings with TDJ News Corps members, reviewing material, etc.; each mentor however will establish his or her own schedule. The mentors for the 2011 TDJ News Corps are:
- Mark Miller, author, jazz historian and former jazz writer for the Globe and Mail
- Errol Nazareth, music columnist on CBC’s Metro Morning and Big City Small World, and for the Toronto Sun
- Ashante Infantry, entertainment reporter for the Toronto Star
TDJ News Corps members will also work closely with TDJ Publicists Anna Tom and Laura Tulley.
Application Procedure
Please email Jaclyn at secretary@jourmalism.ryerson.ca for the application package.
The application deadline is March 15 at 5:00 pm – all applications must be received by the deadline.
Applications can be submitted in one of the following ways:
- By email (as attachments), to josh@tojazz.com
- By fax, to (416) 928-0533
- By mail, to 82 Bleecker Street, Toronto, ON, M4X 1L8
Please put all applications to the attention of “TDJ News Corps” or, if emailed, write “TDJ News Corps application” in the subject line.
Selection Process
TDJ News Corps members will be selected based on the strength of their applications and, if necessary, an in-person meeting. Results will be announced no later than March 31.
Should you require any additional information on the TDJ News Corps program, or if you have any questions about the application process, please contact Artistic Director Josh Grossman at (416) 928-2033, ext. 27, or email josh@tojazz.com.
