[acc-cca-l] Decolonizing Journalism - Challenging the Narrative

[Shenaz Kermalli]

[△EXTERNAL]


Dear Colleagues,

You are warmly invited to register for the online Decolonizing Journalism course<https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/courses/4110-decolonizing-journalism-changing-narrative> beginning on September 22nd, 2025. A poster is attached, and details are below.

Feel free to distribute this message widely in your professional and personal networks.

About this course

Colonialism isn’t just Canada’s past — it’s also Canada’s present. This course explores how colonial structures continue to shape the country’s national identity, institutions, and media landscape.

>From renewed attention on national symbols like King Charles III and the War of 1812, to pressing issues such as policing, immigration, and Canada’s relationship with the United States, the colonial legacy is everywhere. Even the four pillars of Canadian democracy — the legislative, executive, judicial, and the press (along with the education system) — rest on colonial foundations.

This course asks: Where have we come from? And where do we go from here?

Designed as a space for bold ideas and critical reflection, this course blends theory with open discussion to challenge assumptions behind Canada’s institutions, with a special focus on journalism and the news media.

Decolonization will be examined through four key lenses:

  *   Indigenous peoples
  *   The Black experience
  *   The Francophone space
  *   The Global South

Each lens will be explored by leading Canadian journalists who bring their professional and lived experiences to the classroom via live online webinars:

  *   Dan David
  *   Desmond Cole
  *   Lela Savic
  *   Shree Paradkar

Participants will also have the opportunity to pitch story ideas to a diverse range of editorial partners, including:

Metroland Media, CBC First Person, The Local, Ricochet, Ku'Ku'kwes News, Maisonneuve Magazine, Broadview Magazine, Africa is a Country, The Narwhal, La Converse, New Lines Magazine, The Rover, Inuit Art Quarterly, IndigiNews, Eagle Feather News, THIS Magazine, The Grind Magazine (Toronto), and Palestine Square.

What you'll learn

  *   Define decolonization in the context of journalism in Canada.
  *   Appreciate the role of a journalist in honouring Truth and Reconciliation.
  *   Explore ethnocentric framing by critically examining how the language and narratives used to frame news stories shape both public opinion and the policy making process.
  *   Interrogate the concept of objectivity in journalism.
  *   Acquire trust-building techniques in covering under-served communities, including reporting with a trauma-informed approach.
  *   Adopt storytelling approaches that serve the community rather than extract from them.

We look forward to seeing you there!
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions: shenaz.kermalli at utoronto.ca<mailto:shenaz.kermalli at utoronto.ca>

Best Regards,
Shenaz Kermalli
Journalist/Instructor
University of Toronto | School of Continuing Studies
Shenaz's Substack<https://shenaz.substack.com/>

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