2023 CCNAwards_Best Special Section circ 10000+

The LJI reporter will be based out of the offices of the Battlefords News-Optimist. The reporter will cover provincial court cases in Saskatoon and Prince Albert regularly and systematically. The reporter will do a regular court docket for the communities of La Loche, La Ronge, Tisdale, Melfort, Hudson Bay, Estevan, Humboldt, Kamsack, Kipling, Preeceville, Unity/Wilkie, Weyburn, and Yorkton. S/he would also be in a position to embark on an in-depth editorial series about First Nations issues in the justice system as it pertains to residents of these communities. The News-Optimist website would be configured to have special sections for each of the communities in the reporter’s coverage area for readers to easily find stories about their home town.

The LJI reporter will cover the urban Indigenous community in the City of Toronto and cover issues of concern to urban Indigenous peoples. Issues will include housing and homelessness, education, the criminal justice system, the environment, education, employment, systemic inequities and anti-racism initiatives.

The LJI reporter will be assigned to the rising criminal activity in Peel region. Some issues that will be investigated include police accountability, the court systems, and social justice. The reporter will also investigate overcrowding of jails, quality of forensics work and youth incarceration.