"My day is not as typical as your average daily reporter," says Kristin Annable, a 2011 graduate of our post-graduate Journalism program and journalist for CBC on their long-term investigations.
"My day usually begins by doing daily court checks to see if there is any news. Then, I typically have phone calls or meetings set up with various sources. I try to carve out 30 minutes a day to deal with Freedom of Information requests. If we are publishing the next day, it's a wild day. I am fact-checking every single part of our story, finishing up the writing, often getting a legal vet from a CBC lawyer, going through copy edits, fact-checking broadcast scripts, preparing morning radio, etc.," she explains.
As a reporter, Kristin says she enjoys digging up new information and bringing it to light. "I love giving people who often don't have a voice, a voice. I love that I am able to use my position as a journalist to get the answers that people are searching for. I love meeting new people and being able to tell their stories and create change that benefits society as a whole. Every day is something new."
Enrolling in Centennial's Journalism program
Kristin says she has always wanted to be a journalist but knew she also wanted to be well-informed on a variety of topics. This led her to complete a four-year honours degree in History and Global Studies, with a minor in English. Then faced with the decision to pursue grad school or a post-graduate diploma from Centennial, she says Centennial was the best option.
"It was a short program with a built-in one-term co-op (huge selling point!) plus the location was excellent, and it was less expensive than grad school," she explains. When reflecting on how the program helps prepare someone for the journalism program, she says, "The co-op is the ultimate way to prepare you for the industry. The program itself lays the foundation, and then you are given a term to really get your stride, make contacts, and build a name for yourself as a reporter. I was an intern at the National Post covering a first-degree murder trial – you can't ask for better hands-on experience."
Kristin also wants to personally thank her former instructors, Ted Barris and Lindy Oughtred, for their guidance through the program. "I wouldn't be where I am without the skills they taught me."
Life after graduation
Upon graduating from the program in 2011, Kristin interned at National Post for a term plus the summer. She then received a paid internship at the Edmonton Journal. She adds, "I quickly got a job at the Winnipeg Sun and was able to make a name for myself as a political reporter. I moved on to the Winnipeg Free Press as a legislative reporter. After covering the 2016 election and breaking a number of high-profile stories, I was hired as an investigative journalist for CBC Manitoba's I Team."
In her current role at CBC, Kristin says a story that she reported on that stands out is the national investigation on in-custody deaths. "This revealed that people who were being arrested for intoxication were dying in police holding cells, often because steps to keep them safe were missed. It recently won the National RTDNA award for investigative journalism. I got to tell the story of Dot Dot, a man who died in a cell after another person rolled his leg over Dot Dot's neck. An inquest has now been called into Dot Dot's death.
Lessons from the Journalism program and advice to future journalists
Throughout her career, Kristin says several key lessons from the Journalism program stand out to her. These include:
- How to structure a news article, journalism ethics, how to chase sources and information, how to be knowledgeable on all the news of the day, not just what interested you.
- We took a weekly news quiz that I was always determined to ace, which got me in the habit of reading the news every day -- which is so important in this industry.
- Being able to write an actual news article for the Observer each week was a great lesson on how to find a community story and make it readable for the public.
- The strong emphasis on writing and structure are lessons I carry with me every day.
- The class on interviewing skills was one of the most important courses that really set me up for success in the real world.
As for advice for someone interested in entering the Journalism program or in the journalism industry in general, Kristin says, "If you truly want to be a journalist and carve out the career you want, be willing to move. There are jobs across the country, and those stories are just as important as what is happening in the GTA. When you start out, be humble, make friends with seasoned journalists and ask them for advice and help. If you don't know how to do something... like searching a property registry -- ask someone. People love to help young journalists, and they have a lot to teach you."
We commend Kristin for her hard work and dedication to this industry and wish her continued success. You can read Kristin's latest stories for CBC here.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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