Corus Entertainment presents journalism scholarships

Canadian media company Corus Entertainment, the parent company of Global News, is presenting financial awards to higher education programs across the country. Alexandra Henderson, vice-president of Global News local stations and Ron Kronstein, manager of news at Global News in Peterborough presented a $16,000 financial award to Trent University’s evolving journalism program on Tuesday afternoon.

“At this very interesting time in history, so to speak, it’s more important than ever to invest in good, solid journalism. I’d like young people to realize that journalism is still a very, very important craft and career. It’s certainly not dying at all. It’s growing, as a matter of fact,” said Kronstein.

Scott Henderson, dean of Trent University’s GTA campus added that such benefits motivated the students and gave them the confidence to build upon their journalistic skills. “It’s an affirmation that what they’re doing is the right thing,” he said. “They’re providing something back to both their community, to their province, to the country, to the world, and they’re seeking truth. “I think it’s a perception that journalism somehow is a dying trade, yet we know there’s more and more content every day.”

The money will be divided and will be used to support fourth-year journalism students in their co-op. The program will be taught out of Trent University’s Durham campus, in conjunction with Durham College.

Additionally, Corus Entertainment also granted journalism and broadcasting students at two Calgary post-secondary institutions scholarships that are being named in honor of two members of Corus’ Calgary staff, who played important roles in media in the city.

“We need to ensure that quality local news is sustainable in this country and it’s not just enough for us to be able to do the kinds of innovations we have to have the newsrooms of the future. So what we wanted to do was to be able to provide support for journalism education here in Calgary. We did that today with more than $32,000 in donations for scholarships at both Mount Royal and SAIT.”

The Global News Peter Watts bursary, which will benefit Mount Royal University journalism students, is named after the long-time broadcaster who rose to fame during the early years of TSN. Watts also hosted The Alberta Morning News on the Corus Radio Network for 20 years before passing away at the age of 68 in a Calgary hospital.

Radio, television and broadcasting students at SAIT will have access to a scholarship in perpetuity named in honor of SAIT alumnus John Himpe, whose career spanned a variety of news outlets and platforms in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“Education is empowerment and it gives the individuals the opportunity actually pursue education and be members of society that can help their families grow and flourish,” Wood said.