Reporting in Black Communities Symposium February 28, 2026 | #REPORTINGBLACK
Calling journalists, journalism educators, students and Black community members! Join us to help improve news coverage of Black communities in Canada.
Saturday February 28, 2026
The Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University
80 Gould Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2M7
About the Symposium
You are invited to a day of learning and knowledge sharing through panels, presentations, and small group discussions to provide feedback that will directly shape the Reporting in Black Communities resources.
Hosted by professors Eternity Martis and Nana aba Duncan in partnership with the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre, the Reporting in Black Communities Symposium brings together Black community members, journalists, journalism educators, and students for a day of panels, presentations, and knowledge sharing to create more equitable news coverage of Black communities in Canada.
In small group discussions, we’ll go through the Reporting in Black Communities report and review insights we gathered from Black news consumers, Black journalists, non-Black journalists, and non-Black newsroom leaders. Whether you’ll be using the guide or just want to see what we found, come share your thoughts on what the guide should prioritize and how it can best support the people who will actually be using it.
The RIBC Symposium is officially sold out!Thank you to everyone who signed up. We’re looking forward to coming together to network, learn and discuss how we can all improve journalistic coverage of Black communities in Canada.
Need a Hotel?
Attendees are invited to stay at:
TOOR Hotel Toronto
203 Jarvis Street, Toronto, ON M5B 0E7
Reserve your room using this booking link or the group code G-TMU6.
Rate: CAD $259/night (plus taxes and fees)
Booking deadline: January 26, 2026 (or until rooms sell out)
Schedule
8:30–9:00:
Breakfast
9:00–9:30:
Welcome & Grounding
9:45–10:45:
Panel: How does the news impact Black communities?
10:45–11:00:
Break
11:00–12:00:
Lightning Round: Breaking the Cycle—Anti-Racist Practices in Newsrooms
12:00–1:00:
Lunch
1:00–1:45:
Reporting in Black Communities Findings Presentation by Eternity Martis & Nana aba Duncan
1:45–2:00:
Break
2:00–3:30:
Small group discussions + online questionnaire (for those who signed up)
- Black community members
- Black journalists and Black newsroom leaders
- Non-Black journalists
- Non-Black newsrooms leaders
- Students
- Educators
2:00–3:30:
Break (for those not in discussions)
3:30–4:00:
Break
4:00–4:30:
Closing remarks
5:00–7:00:
Reception
Meet the Speakers
Meet the Reporting in Black Communities Symposium panelists, moderators and facilitators:
Hosts
Eternity Martis
Assistant Professor, Journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University
Co-Lead, Reporting in Black Communities
Co-Lead, Reporting in Black Communities
Nana aba Duncan
Associate Professor, Journalism, Carleton University
Co-Lead, Reporting in Black Communities
Co-Lead, Reporting in Black Communities
Panelists
Notisha Massaquoi
Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Society, UofT Scarborough
Danette A. Edwards
Barrister & Solicitor, former Legal Director, Black Legal Action Centre
Stephen Hennessy
Youth co-ordinator, Westhaven Community Association Centre
Brian Daly
Associate Director, Assistant Professor, Journalism, University of King’s College Halifax
Shree Paradkar
Investigative Reporter, Toronto Star
Ian Brimacombe
Managing Editor, CBC Nova Scotia
Lisa Dennis
Member of CBC Nova Scotia’s Community Advisory Board
Inori Roy
Journalist and Associate Editor, The Local
Brent Jolly
President, Canadian Association of Journalists
Discussion Facilitators
Julie Sobowale
Journalist, Lawyer, Western Director, Canadian Association of Black Journalists
Sonya Fatah
Associate Professor, Journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University
Gavin Adamson
Professor, Journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University
Eternity Martis
Assistant Professor, Journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University
Thank you to everyone who Signed Up!