The Democracy Fund will host its fourth annual Student Journalism Conference and Job Fair in Toronto from October 3-5, 2025

This year's theme focuses on the free market.

Successful applicants will participate in a three-day intensive program and learn the fundamentals of modern journalism, with an emphasis on digital platforms. In addition to journalistic skills, participants will learn about Canada's civil liberties challenges in 2025.

Through lectures and interactive sessions, attendees will learn about the latest trends and best practices in journalism, as well as the importance of upholding journalistic integrity in the face of censorship.

A highlight of the weekend will be a journalistic group assignment that a panel of senior journalists will grade and offer helpful, practical feedback – with a grand prize for the winning group!

Successful applicants will have all their travel costs (economy class), accommodations, and meals covered while at the conference. This truly is a one-of-a-kind, all-expenses-paid opportunity for young aspiring journalists in Canada!

Lineup of guest speakers:

• Ezra Levant
  Founder and owner of Rebel News and the host of The Ezra Levant Show. He is the author of multiple best-selling books, including Ethical Oil and most recently, China Virus.
  
  
• Matthew Lau
  Matthew Lau is an adjunct scholar at the Fraser Institute and writes regularly for the Financial Post. His writing covers a wide range of subjects, including fiscal policy, economic theory, climate change, and government regulation. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in finance and economics from the University of Toronto, and is a CFA charterholder.
  
  
• Franco Terrazzano 
  Franco Terrazzano is the Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Before stepping into public advocacy, he worked as an economic policy analyst with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and as a fellow with the Canadian Constitution Foundation. His work focuses on making government more efficient and accountable: exposing waste, unpacking tax policies, and challenging bad budgeting with data and clarity.
  
  
• Bruce Pardy is professor of law at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and executive director of Rights Probe, a law and liberty thinktank. Bruce has written for the National Post, Epoch Times, and the Brownstone Institute, among others, and on his own Substack. He serves as senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and the Aristotle Foundation. He has taught at law schools in Canada, the United States and New Zealand, practiced civil litigation in Toronto, and served as adjudicator and mediator on the Ontario Environmental Tribunal. 
  
  
• Kate Marland is the Manager of the MEI’s Liberty + Leadership Program and a lawyer called to the Ontario bar in 2023. Formerly a commercial litigator in Ottawa, she also led the Canada Strong and Free Network’s Conservative Values Tomorrow mentorship program, where she developed a passion for identifying, organizing, and recruiting young people to champion responsible government and individual freedom. She holds a JD from the University of Ottawa, an MA in Fashion Studies from Ryerson, and a BA in Orchestral Performance from McGill.
  
  
• Renaud Brossard is the MEI’s VP of Communications, where he specializes in making complex research accessible to the public through clear writing, media strategy, and outreach across traditional and digital platforms. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UQAM and has extensive experience in communications and media relations with major advocacy organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, film, and exploring peaty whiskies from Scotland’s Isle of Islay.
  
  
• David Menzies
  David “The Menzoid” Menzies is the Rebel News "Mission Specialist." The Menzoid is equal parts outrageous and irreverent as he dares to ask the type of questions those in the Media Party would rather not ponder.
  
  
• Sheila Gunn Reid
  Sheila is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.
  
  
• Tamara Ugolini
  Tamara is a human rights activist turned journalist and is the Senior Editor at Rebel News. Motherhood introduced her to parental rights advocacy and what it means to have true, informed consent. She critiques the shortcomings of "Big-Policy" on the individual and questions mainstream narratives.
  
  
• Amy Hamm
  A journalist since 2016, Amy writes, speaks, organizes, and plans events focused on gender ideology, women's rights, child safeguarding, and free speech. Her work often emerges from tips and story ideas received from readers, sometimes resulting in articles initiated by a DM from a stranger. Amy holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Thompson Rivers University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. Amy is a published writer in The National Post, The Post Millennial, Quillette,
  Human Events, The New Westminster Times, and Feminist Current.
  
  
• Élie Cantin-Nantel
  Founder and publisher of EMCN Media, a new independent conservative media venture based in Ottawa, ON. Prior to starting his own business, he worked for several Canadian conservative outlets, beginning at The Post Millennial, then True North, and most recently The Hub, where he served as its Ottawa correspondent. Elie has covered Parliament Hill as one of the youngest journalists accredited by the Parliamentary Press Gallery, along with major political conventions and election campaigns. He is currently completing a Joint Honours degree in Communication and Political Science at the University of Ottawa.

Meet our sponsors:

• Rebel News
  Rebel News, founded in 2015, prides itself on telling the other side of the story. They follow the facts wherever they may lead — even if that conflicts with the official narrative of the establishment. Rebel News fights for freedom of speech both for themselves and for those with whom we disagree — that’s how freedom of speech works. They believe any and every idea ought to be open to criticism and debate. And they are not afraid to champion people who have been forgotten by the establishment. Rebel News is one of the few media outlets that has the power, freedom, and reach to challenge the views presented in the mainstream media.
  
  
• The Independent Press Gallery of Canada
  The Independent Press Gallery of Canada (IPG) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to independent, non-governmental journalist organizations. IPG helps protect the rights of journalists and promote a culture of free and independent media in Canada. Providing member services that range from press credentials to internships, advice and other assistance, IPG strongly stands for the independence and rights of its journalists.
  
  
• True North
  True North is a Canadian digital media platform that seeks to provide Canadians with fair, accurate, truthful and fact-based news reports, analysis, investigative reports, podcasts, interviews and documentaries.
  
  
• Juno News 
  Juno News is a new media company founded in 2025 by Candice Malcolm and Keean Bexte, and built upon the core Canadian principle of free speech and press freedom.
  
  
• Western Standard
  The Western Standard founded in 2004, is an independent source of news and commentary fighting for a strong and free Western Canada, committed to the truth, even when it hurts, and opposed to any government funding, regulation or intervention of the press. 
  
  
• Canada Strong + Free Network
  The Canada Strong and Free Network was founded in 2005 as the Manning Centre for Building Democracy to support Canada’s conservative movement by networking best practices and ideas pertaining to limited government, free enterprise, individual responsibility and a more robust civil society. The name change took place at the request of the organization’s founderPreston Manning in 2020.  
  

For those interested in sponsoring our conference as a partner and participating in our job fair, please email [email protected]. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The conference is open to Canadians, permanent residents and non-Canadians with valid work permits interested in pursuing journalism in any medium
• Must be proficient in English
• Vacancies are open to applicants 18 to 30 years of age

Selection Criteria:

• Ambition and work ethic
• Journalistic integrity
• Would benefit personally and professionally from the conference and would be likely to make journalism a career
• A commitment to civil liberties

This conference offers not only a valuable learning experience but also serves as a job fair where attendees can network and engage with prominent journalists and Canadian news outlets, paving the way for future career opportunities.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Apply by Sunday, August 10, 2025.

A special thank you to this year's sponsors for their support in making our Student Journalism Conference possible. Their commitment to supporting independent media and advocating for freedom of the press is truly inspiring. TDF is deeply grateful for their partnership.

If you wish to support our conference, please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to fund our initiative.

Thank you for your contribution to the advancement of journalism and for empowering the upcoming generation of reporters and writers!

About The Democracy Fund:

Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education. TDF supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.