The manager of Quebec's public pension assets is supporting the province's budding journalists.
Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Montreal, and the Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists, a provincial trade organization, have created the CDPQ Fund for Journalistic Succession, according to a joint news release. The fund, to be administered by the federation, will provide C$10,000 ($7,550) each to 10 young journalists or journalism students each year to pay for a three- to four-month internship with a Quebec media outlet. CDPQ will also provide C$5,000 annually to the federation for fund administration costs.
The CDPQ agreement with the federation is for three years, with a possible three-year extension, a CDPQ spokesman said.
At least one award each year will be given to a young journalist from rural Quebec, one to a candidate who wants to work at an English-language media outlet, and at least one to work at a qualified new media or alternative media outlet.
"It is important to support the work of information professionals, who play an essential role in a democratic society," said Michele Boisvert, CDPQ executive vice president, business outreach, in the news release. Prior to joining CDPQ, Ms. Boisvert was a journalist for more than 25 years.
Information is posted on the federation's website.
CDPQ managed C$308.3 billion in Quebec public pension and insurance assets as of June 30.
