The JPBG Equity Scholarship was instituted in 2009 to address the shortage of broadcasters from under-represented groups. (submitted photo/JPBG)

By Teena Monteleone

Equity Scholarship

Equity Scholarship addresses shortage of broadcasters from under-represented groups

Apr 16, 2019 | 11:57 AM

A scholarship competition for broadcast students in the prairie provinces was recently launched to access an untapped pool of potentially talented employees and encourage diverse viewpoints and backgrounds.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group’s (JPBG) Equity Scholarship is open to broadcast students in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It started in 2009 as a way to address the shortage of broadcasters from four groups; Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and women. In a news release, JPBG scholarship committee chair Dave Sherwood said supporting the career development of these groups will also enhance relationships with local communities and broaden the advertiser audience base.

This year, two $2,000 awards will be made available to prairie students who are attending or planning to attend a recognized broadcast program at a post-secondary institution in one of those provinces.

One of the two recipients last year was Amanda Vocke – a second year Broadcast News student at SAIT in Calgary. Vocke is of German and Filipino ancestry. She believes her background gives her some advantages in her goal of becoming a reporter.

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“I believe that my background and upbringing gives me a unique perspective that will positively present Canadians, including minorities,” Vocke was quoted in a JPBG news release.

Applicants can access a scholarship information and application package at the websites of the prairie stations of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group including those in Prince Albert, Melfort, Meadow Lake and North Battleford. The deadline for applications is October 4 with the awards to be announced in November.

Editor’s Note: paNOW and its partners are a division of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

@TeenaMonteleone