Camilla Bains selected for 2022 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship

The 2022 recipients for the CBC Joan Donaldson scholarship have been released, and a J-School student has made the list.

Camilla Bains, an upcoming 2022 grad, is among the 12 aspiring journalists who earned spots in this high-profile program.

Bains, who previously worked with CBC’s Power and Politics, says receiving the scholarship has been a dream since beginning her journey at J-School.

“I was over the moon. It’s something I worked so hard to achieve, but at the end of the day, I knew the competition was steep,” Bains says. “I was so happy to have a job offer like this before I even graduated – it honestly felt surreal! I called my family and mentor right away to share the news.”

The Joan Donaldson scholarship is awarded to emerging journalists from across Canada. According to CBC, the 16-week program allows recipients to gain “valuable hands-on experience in all areas of multi-platform news working in digital, radio and television.”

Bains says these scholarships are a great way to gain journalistic experience.

“These opportunities are so important for young, up-and-coming journalists to get right into their careers and begin work with such a highly-regarded organization. It’s a great opportunity to work with a powerful journalistic institution.”

Previous to the scholarship, Bains also worked as a teaching assistant and held editor positions at Folio, On the Record and [currently] New Wave Magazine.

Bains says the school has prepared her for her professional career.

“J-school offered classes that equipped me with technical skills like Adobe editing, to soft skills like being dynamic on camera,” she says. “I’m so glad I got to sharpen my political IQ while completing my degree— and take a politics and journalism course where I felt right in my element.”

Bains says she doesn’t see herself leaving CBC anytime soon.

“I see myself continuing my work with CBC, perhaps moving from behind the camera to being on-camera! It’s always been a goal of mine to be an on-air broadcaster, as I’ve always had an affinity for broadcasting and camera work.”

 Short bios about Bains and the other recipients of the Donaldson scholarship can be found here (external link) .