TDJ News Corps
Toronto Downtown Jazz (TDJ), producers of the annual TD Toronto Jazz Festival (the Festival), is pleased to announce the 2018 TDJ News Corps (News Corps), an initiative geared towards post-secondary students who are interested in writing about jazz. Successful News Corps applicants are given full media accreditation for the Festival, granting them unprecedented access – attending and reviewing concerts for free, interviewing artists and experiencing the Festival from behind the scenes. In addition, News Corps members are assigned a mentor – an experienced arts journalist.
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is one of North America’s premier jazz festivals. What began in 1987 as an eight-day showcase of jazz now attracts in excess of 500,000 loyal patrons annually over 10 days, and features more than 150 performances with over 1,500 musicians performing at locations throughout Toronto.
Eligibility
The TDJ News Corps program is open to any part-time or full-time post-secondary student enrolled at a Greater Toronto Area university or college. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in and, ideally, experience with writing about jazz.
Program Outline
- The application deadline is May 15; results will be announced by May 22.
- A maximum of 2 News Corps members will be selected.
- All applicants must be available for the full duration of the Festival, June 22 to July 1, 2018.
- TDJ News Corps members are offered an honorarium of $250 each.
- Successful applicants are granted full media accreditation for the Festival.
- Each News Corps member is assigned to a mentor, who will help with tips on writing about the arts, interview skills, and career advice.
- News Corps members are expected to post reviews/interviews to the TDJ News Corps page at torontojazz.com within 48 hours of the show/interview.
- News Corps members are treated like any other member of the media, and are expected to follow the accepted protocol when it comes to getting access to concerts, artists, etc. A full orientation will be offered in advance of the Festival.
- News Corps members are expected to meet the highest professional standard in their articles, reviews and interviews. TDJ reserves the right to edit all material before it is posted at torontojazz.com.
The TDJ News Corps on torontojazz.com
The TDJ News Corps has a dedicated page at torontojazz.com where members can post their approved interviews, concert reviews and behind-the-scenes perspectives on the festival. Each News Corps member is given a unique login which will allow them to post material to the page; once approved by a moderator, the material will be published online.
Mentors
Each News Corps member will be assigned one mentor. TDJ recommends that each mentor make available one hour per week for meetings, prior to the Festival, with TDJ News Corps members, reviewing material, etc.; each mentor however will establish his or her own schedule. The mentors for the 2018 TDJ News Corps are:
- Karen Bliss, Canadian correspondent for Billboard and founder/editor-in-chief of Samaritanmag.com
- Del Cowie, music journalist and editor who was written for CBC Music, National Post, Noisey, NOW and Exclaim!
TDJ News Corps members will also work closely with TDJ Publicist Anna Tom.
Application Procedure
Applications can be submitted in one of the following ways:
- Complete the application on the following pages, attaching additional pages where necessary, and mail it to 82 Bleecker Street, Toronto, ON, M4X 1L8, attention "TDJ News Corps"
- Fill out the online application at torontojazz.com/content/tdj-news-corps-application.
The application deadline is May 15 at 5:00 pm – all applications must be received by the deadline.
Selection Process
TDJ News Corps members will be selected based on the strength of their applications and, if necessary, an in-person meeting. Results will be announced no later than May 22.
Should you require any additional information on the TDJ News Corps program, or if you have any questions about the application process, please contact Artistic Director Josh Grossman at (416) 928-2033, ext. 27, or email .
TDJ News Corps Application
1. Identification
Applicant name:Mailing address:
Home phone: / Cell phone:
I prefer: home phone cell phone
Email:
Website (if applicable):
2. Post-secondary enrollment
The TDJ News Corps is open to any post-secondary student, enrolled part-time or full-time, at a Greater Toronto Area university or college. Please confirm your enrollment (a copy of your student card is required as part of the application):
Current program:Program level: Undergraduate Graduate
Enrollment type: Part-time Full-time
Institution name:
Student number:
Expected graduating year:
3. Expression of interest
In the space provided, please describe why you are interested in joining the TDJ News Corps. The expression of interest should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be typed or hand-written. Please use the space provided – do not attach additional pages.
4. Support materials
Please attach the following support materials to this application:
A letter of support from one of your professors
A copy of your student card
Examples of your writing – please include up to 3 examples of your past writing about music in particular or about the arts in general (maximum three pages total)
5. Submission and selection
Applications can be submitted in one of the following ways:
- Complete the application on the following pages, attaching additional pages where necessary, and mail it to 82 Bleecker Street, Toronto, ON, M4X 1L8, attention "TDJ News Corps"
- Fill out the online application at torontojazz.com/content/tdj-news-corps-application.
The application deadline is May 15 at 5:00 pm – all applications must be received by the deadline.
Please do not bind or staple the application in any way.
TDJ News Corps members will be selected based on the strength of their applications and, if necessary, an in-person meeting. Results will be announced no later than May 22.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Artistic Director Josh Grossman at (416) 928-2033, ext. 27, or email .