Postmedia has announced that journalist Jessica Mundie as the recipient of this year’s Michelle Lang Fellowship in Journalism. Starting December 6, 2021, Ms. Mundie will spend her first six months working at the National Post in Toronto, after which she will move to the Calgary Herald for the next six months of her fellowship.
With an Honours Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, and a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City, Ms. Mundie most recently interned at Religion News Service, where she covered the intersection of religion and popular culture. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Associated Press, Manhattan Times and Columbia News Service. She has covered topics including representation of indigenous video gamers on streaming platforms, and the lack of accessibility in outdoor dining in New York City. Ms. Mundie is originally from Ottawa, Ontario.
“The Michelle Lang Fellowship celebrates Michelle’s passion for journalism and we are proud to continue honouring that by welcoming Jessica as this year’s fellowship recipient,” said Rob Roberts, Editor in Chief of the National Post. “We look forward to Jessica working with the National Post’s award-winning journalists to continue Michelle’s legacy with stories that engage, include and educate.”
Michelle Lang, an award-winning Calgary Herald journalist, died in December 2009 while on assignment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. She was the first Canadian journalist killed while reporting on the Afghan war.
Ms. Mundie is the ninth recipient of this fellowship, which began in 2010. Michelle Lang fellows engage in daily journalism and also work on an investigative project. Ms. Mundie will explore how children’s education in rural and low-income communities has been affected during the pandemic by the lack of dependable internet access.
This fellowship includes a salary for the year, plus funding for a special project, as chosen by the fellow, on a topic of social significance inspired by Michelle Lang’s own portfolio of work. Funding for the fellowship is provided by the Calgary Herald and Postmedia Network, as well as the Michelle Lang Trust, with the fellow’s special project funded exclusively by the Michelle Lang Trust.
