We're hiring two Youth Reporters for Canada Summer Jobs 2026
Workplace Overview
CHLY 101.7 FM is a campus-community radio station of Nanaimo and Vancouver Island University (VIU) students. Beginning as a student club in 1994, and gaining not-for-profit status in 1997 as the Radio Malaspina Society, CHLY-FM was approved for a broadcast license by the CRTC in 2001. Our station is located in the Traditional Territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, broadcasting from Nanaimo, a small city of approximately 105,000 people located on Vancouver Island.
CHLY has a small staff and over 60+ volunteers made up of Community Members from our broadcast community, and Student members from VIU’s Nanaimo Campus. CHLY has a mandate to report on local stories, support niche programming, local and Canadian artists and underrepresented voices. Each week, locally produced and syndicated programs are broadcast on CHLY 101.7 FM in three different languages. CHLY can also be streamed online, with some programs available via podcast.
2026 also marks what will be our 25th year of broadcasting.
Job description
As a Youth Reporter at CHLY, you will be working within a nonprofit newsroom that provides local civic and community news to its listeners and readers. You will be responsible for a variety of tasks including, but not limited to, researching news stories, interviewing sources, writing copy, as well as recording and editing audio for our news updates. Youth Reporters will also have an opportunity to contribute to Midcoast Morning, our news and current affairs program.
These positions are funded by the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program.
Qualifications
The applicant will ideally have the following, or be working towards the following qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field;
Strong writing skills with the ability to convey complex information in an accessible manner;
Experience with news writing or reporting through internships or coursework;
Highly responsible and reliable with exceptional attention to detail;
Work or volunteer experience at one or more campus or community radio stations in Canada is an asset, with experience with anti-oppression work;
Familiarity with digital media platforms and social media as tools for news dissemination;
Experience in multimedia journalism, including video editing and audio production;
Knowledge of CP style and journalistic standards;
Ability to work under tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail;
Proven track record of achieving and exceeding goals;
Tasks & Responsibilities
The applicant will work with a small team in a non-profit broadcasting environment to:
Work within our Nonprofit Newsroom (chly.ca/nonprofit-newsroom-project);
Research, and gather information on newsworthy events and issues relating to:
Local government ie: City of Nanaimo, Regional District of Nanaimo, Islands Trust, School Board, other local governments within our broadcast community;
Community news ie: events, youth, arts and culture, sports, homelessness, addiction, healthcare, the science and the environment, protests, and other issues relevant to our audience;
Conduct interviews with sources and stakeholders to gather insights and quotes for articles.
Write clear, concise, and compelling news stories, with adherence to journalistic standards and ethics.
Record and produce audio versions of their news stories.
Attend press conferences, community events, and other relevant gatherings to cover breaking news and report live if necessary;
Pitch story ideas based on the above;
Track and cultivate sources for stories;
Take photos for developing stories and file photos purposes;
Collaborate with senior reporters and editors to identify trending topics and develop story ideas.
Maintain a strong understanding of current events and issues affecting our community and beyond
Assist in day-to-day activities of the station: answering phones, emails, assisting volunteers, etc;
Assist in publishing news update to website and podcast service;
Assist in the creation of our weekly eNewsletter to distribute news stories;
Assist in tabling at events in the community to promote the station;
Assist where necessary the Youth Producers in the supervision of the Summer Radio Camp participants.
Soft Skills and Cultural Fit
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with sources.
Curiosity and a desire to learn and grow within the field of journalism.
A proactive approach to problem-solving and storytelling.
A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Other Details / Mentoring
Will report to the Executive Director (ED) of CHLY and receive mentoring and direction from them and other staff;
Staff and station volunteers will provide on-site, hands-on training on station equipment.
Compensation
The rate of pay is $20/hour starting at 30 hours per week over a nine (9) week period for a full-time limited contract totalling 270 hours.
Work Location
The position(s) will be required to work at our station in Nanaimo, BC. Some opportunities may be available for remote work with approval of the Executive Director.
Start and End Dates
Earliest Start Date: Monday, Jun 8, 2026 (for youths over 18) / Monday, June 29th, 2026 (for youths under 18).
Earliest anticipated start date: June 8th, 2026.
Anticipated end date: Nine (9) weeks after start date. Latest end date: August 30th, 2026.
Application Process
Application Deadline: by Friday May 22nd, 2026 by midnight.
Interested candidates should submit their resume, a cover letter detailing their interest in the role, and any relevant project work or experience to personnel@chly.ca. Please use the subject line: "CHLY Personnel Committee CSJ - Junior Reporter - [Your Name]".
Note: The Radio Malaspina Society (Operating CHLY 101.7FM) is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.
Youth facing barriers to employment
All youth ages 15 to 30 are welcome to apply and will be considered. As part of our Canada Summer Jobs funding agreement, we will prioritize the recruitment of the following youth who face barriers to employment:
Indigenous youth;
Racialized youth;
Black youth;
2SLGBTQI+ youth.
Age eligibility and funding note
This job is funded through a Canada Summer Job (CSJ) Grant. To be eligible, youth must:
be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment*
be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment**; and,
have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
*The youth must be 15 years of age at the beginning of the employment period. The youth may be more than 30 years of age at the end of the employment period as long as the youth was 30 at the beginning of the employment period.
**International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada. Youth awaiting a refugee status ruling, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, youth visa or work visa are ineligible. As the objective of the Canada Summer Jobs program is to support youth entering the Canadian labour market, the temporary nature of an international student's time in Canada does not allow for a long-term connection to the labour market.