The Department of Journalism is committed to serving the profession by training future skilled, thinking journalists. We see journalism as a public service essential to a democratic society. 

Our Mission

We view journalism as an intellectual activity with rigorous standards for gathering, processing and disseminating information.The faculty and staff are committed to serving the profession by training skilled, thinking journalists and to producing scholarship, criticism, and commentary on journalism. For more than 40 years, the department has produced award-winning national and international journalists. It is one of the best journalism programs in Canada.

Our Profile

We offer four programs: a three-year undergraduate program, two one-year graduate diplomas, and a two-year MA in Journalism Studies. We train journalists and future scholars of journalism. 

Our students in the professional programs take production courses in all forms of digital journalism and work in “live” news situations, covering events on deadline. Complementing these workshops are lecture-based courses that focus on journalism’s social, economic, political and ideological impacts.

This blend of theory and practice enables our students to set the foundation for a career in news production, develop skills of critical reflection and grow to understand the complexities and increasing diversity of the society their journalism is meant to serve.

The Dept. of Journalism Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Concordia University’s Department of Journalism is actively moving forward with responding to Call to Action #86 through several means.

1. The hiring of a tenure-track position in Indigenous Journalism to develop curriculum and projects with a focus on Indigenous experiences/perspectives and decolonizing journalism practice (start date likely: August, 2024)
2. An active collaboration with Concordia’s Director of Decolonizing Curriculum and Pedagogy to review programming/delivery with the aim of decolonizing and Indigenizing curriculum and practices.
3. Guest lectures and workshops by the Indigenous Journalist-in-Residence, focusing on Call to Action #86 and ways journalists can more respectfully work with Indigenous communities in their reporting.

Other Initiative

Building Bridges between Indigenous High School students and Journalism

CBC journalist Kristy Snell on the collaboration between her Concordia journalism students and Kahnawake Survival School and how partnerships can inspire Indigenous youth to tell their own stories

Building bridges between Indigenous high school students and journalism

Concordia University’s Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The university’s “Indigenous Directions Action Plan is envisioned as a guide and tool to enable all Concordians to move the University towards a more equitable and inclusive future. It is created, in part, to respond to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).”

The official plan is called Concordia’s Path Towards Decolonizing and Indigenizing the University.

Through community engagement and collaborative effort, the Action Plan puts forth:

• structures and policies that allow for greater participation of Indigenous communities, students, staff and faculty in the University’s governance;
• the integration of Indigenous knowledge and the Principles of Reconciliation into existing courses, programs, and governance structures at Concordia;
• steps that should be undertaken to enhance the cultural climate at Concordia for Indigenous students, staff, and faculty;
• strategies, programs and services that will support and facilitate Concordia’s recruitment, admission, retention, and graduation of Indigenous students;
• strategies, programs and services that will support and facilitate Concordia’s recruitment and retention of Indigenous faculty and staff; and
• ways to foster, strengthen and showcase innovative by and with Indigenous faculty and students in partnership with Indigenous communities.”

Call to Action # 86

We call upon Canadian journalism programs and media schools to require education for all students on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. 

Mandatory Course: Currently an elective. In Process to become mandatory by Fall 2025.

A 3-credit course where students learn about Treaties – both historic and modern, the legacy/impacts of Residential Institutions, the Indian Act, the Sixties Scoop, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  They learn about trauma-informed reporting, varying perspectives on societal institutions, the impacts of media stereotypes, positionality, and their own responsibilities as journalists.  

Students also take part in six weeks of place-based experiential learning working with Kanien’kehá:ka high school students in Kahnawà:ke as they produce stories about the community for publication.  This course is currently an elective.

Dept. of Journalism’s Commitment to Call to Action # 86: 3 out of 5 = 60%

1	The history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. Planned for August 2024.
2	The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes.  Planned for August 2024.
3	Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes.  Planned for August 2024.
4	Indigenous law
No. Not explicitly addressed
5	Aboriginal–Crown Relations
No. Not explicitly addressed

Land Acknowledgement

Located on Journalism’s Home Page in bottom banner with a link to a full version:

Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of Tiohtià:ke/ Montreal.

“Territorial Acknowledgment”

Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/ Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.”

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. Concordia University – Department of Journalism reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher: Timothy Maton: Ph.D