God in the City: Catholic Journalism Summer Intensive

Canadian Catholic News is pleased to respond to requests to offer an in-person intensive experience of its popular online course, “Telling Truth in Charity: Introduction to Catholic Journalism” with this Catholic journalism summer intensive course in Toronto, Aug. 10-16, 2025.

Who is this for?

This fast-paced seminar is for journalists and aspiring journalists who want to learn or refine their skills in faith-based reporting for Catholic media. Participants will benefit from one-on-one mentoring. Their work will be published at the end of the seminar.

Co-presented with the Catholic Register, The B.C. Catholic, Catholic Conscience, The Religion & Journalism Project, Catholic Media Association of the United States and Canada, Catholic Women’s League of Canada, and Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada.

Application Deadline: June 30, 2025

Location and Format

• The seminar will be held at the beautiful Serra House in the heart of downtown Toronto. Participants will arrange their own travel to and from the seminar.
• Tuition is $1,500 CAD, and includes the full program, room and board, payable by cheque or bank transfer. A surcharge will be applied when paying online with a credit card.
• Participants living in the GTA may commute and opt out of the accommodations on site.
• Financial assistance is available. Indicate the need for assistance when applying.
• Participants will arrive Sunday, August 10, and depart Saturday, August 16.
• Participants must bring their own notebooks, laptop and cameras.
• There will be two sessions each day, including lectures and seminar-style discussions, followed by hands-on reporting assignments in the city. Students’ work will be published. Fluency in English is a requirement.

Application Information

• For consideration, applicants must submit:
  • A c.v. or resume
  • A writing sample
  • A statement of interest (750 words)
  • A letter of recommendation from an employer (past or present) or professor (past or present)
• Submit all application material by filling out the form below
• Up to 14 applicants will be accepted.
• Application deadline: June 30, 2025

For more information please contact us.

Course Sponsors

Jermaine Bagnall

Jermaine Bagnall is a seasoned media professional with over a decade of experience in storytelling, content creation, and multimedia production. He has collaborated with prominent organizations like The Mastercard Foundation and Salt + Light Media, specializing in creating impactful narratives through audio and video. Drawing from his extensive background in podcasting and Catholic journalism, Jermaine is passionate about equipping others with the tools and insights needed to launch meaningful and engaging podcasts.

Barb Fraze

Barb Fraze has won awards for her reporting but is happiest when she is editing. She started as a copy editor at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, then served as the editor (and staff) of a small Indianapolis weekly before joining the now-closed Catholic News Service in Washington. She spent decades on the international desk, coordinating coverage with the Rome bureau and a network of international correspondents. She currently freelances, and she says as an editor she likes spinning straw into copper and silver into gold. She is the 2023 recipient of the Catholic Media Association’s St. Francis de Sales Award, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism.”

Laura Ieraci

Laura Ieraci is editor of ONE magazine. Previously, she worked at Catholic News Service and Vatican Radio in Rome, Horizons of the Eparchy of Parma in the U.S., the Archdiocese of Montreal and the Catholic Times in Canada. She has freelanced widely and has won multiple journalism awards. She serves on the board of Canadian Catholic News and is the founder of The Religion & Journalism Project.

John Longhurst

John Longhurst is the religion reporter and columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and the religion commentator for CBC Manitoba Information Radio. He also writes for Canadian Affairs, Anabaptist World and Canadian Jewish News. In 2024, he was appointed to the Order of Canada for his interfaith reporting that can “reduce hate and to help readers see the humanity in every person.” In 2021, he received the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Inter-religious Understanding for his work, and was acknowledged by ARCCC for his Distinguished Contribution to Religious Communications in Canada in 2006. He has authored two books and has served on several professional associations for journalists and communicators.

Paul Schratz

Paul Schratz has over 40 years’ experience in journalism, having worked as a reporter, photographer, editorial page editor, columnist, and editor at daily and weekly newspapers in Ontario and British Columbia. He started with the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 1997, serving at various times as communications director and editor of The B.C. Catholic, his current position. He is also editorial and outreach manager for Canadian Catholic News, overseeing news and social media strategies, fundraising, and outreach initiatives.