Call for Indy board members!

In 2024 we won regional and national journalism awards. We broke big stories and in-depth investigations. We expanded our coverage in Labrador. And we held in-person events to connect with our readers and supporters.

But we’re not stopping there. In this time of political turmoil, and with the continued decimation of local news outlets, The Indy and its supporters continue building a reader-funded local newsroom of independent journalists who care about our communities as much as those who read our work.

Right now, we are looking for two new board members who are passionate about local independent journalism and can share skills in graphic design, marketing, and/or fundraising.

Requirements:

• Time to commit to Board responsibilities;
• 2 hours per month for monthly virtual Board meeting;
• 1-2 hours per week for design/marketing/fundraising work + more time as required (i.e. in lead-up to events and campaigns);
• Ability to work as part of a volunteer team;
• A commitment to The Independent’s mission, vision and values.

Good to have:

• Experience and proven track record in organizing and collaborative work;
• Lived experience not already represented on the Board of Directors (for example, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, and residents of Labrador or rural areas);
• Experience in not-for-profit operations or governance;
• Professional experience and networks not already represented on the Board of Directors (our Board has a majority of MUNL-adjacent members).

To express your interest, tell us what you would bring to the Indy Board in one of the following formats: 

• A 3-5 minute video or audio clip;
• A letter of interest;
• A 20-minute informal interview with a Board member;
• You are welcome to submit supporting documents such as a resume, but this is not essential.
• Answer the following questions in your submission:
• Why do The Indy’s mission, vision and values resonate with you?
• What skills and experience would you bring to the Board of Directors?

Please send files or a link to a file (on Google Drive or Dropbox) to Board Chair Robin Whitaker at robin.whitaker@theindependent.ca. If you would like to do an interview, please email Robin to schedule a time. 

We will interview candidates on a rolling basis until we find candidates who we feel are a good fit. 

Any questions?

Email robin.whitaker@theindependent.ca if you’re wondering if you’d be a good fit. A board member will be happy to speak with you.

Equity Statement

(This statement was developed by, and used with permission from, our friends at Briarpatch Magazine. Though the language here deals with hiring, we use the same principles in our recruitment of volunteers, including Board members.)

The Independent recognizes that in Canada, legacies of oppression and genocide are perpetuated through, among other things, hiring practices. White people, settlers, cis people, straight people, wealthy people, and men are given access and preferentially hired into permanent, well paying, high-esteemed jobs over Indigenous people, Black people, people of colour, women, trans people, queer people, disabled people, and poor and working-class people.

Within media—an important mechanism of social change—this produces a ripple effect. Stories by and about marginalized groups are often diluted, tokenized, and sidelined—if not ignored completely. This limits people from marginalized groups’ ability to articulate demands and change the conditions of their oppression. One of the ways that The Independent participates in restoring justice is by implementing socially just hiring practices that counter these legacies. Through this practice we strive to ensure that The Independent values and centres the leadership of people from groups that are historically and currently identified as targets of genocide and oppression.

If you are applying for a position and would like consideration as a member of an equity-seeking group, please feel free to indicate this in your application. If you have concerns about a job ad or other hiring issue, please feel free to contact Robin at robin.whitaker@theindependent.ca.