From J-school to CBC: Meet the CBC News Summer Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to Addie Tiller, a Master of Journalism ‘26 student, Olivia Zhong, an Undergraduate ‘26 student and alumna Khushy Vashisht ‘25 on receiving CBC News Summer Scholarships in memory of Joan Donaldson and Peter Gzowski (external link) .
Chair Ravindra Mohabeer remarked, “To have three members of the TMU J-School community land a prestigious CBC News Summer Scholarship in memory of Joan Donaldson and Peter Gzowski is an amazing accomplishment.”
The scholarship was open to applicants from across the country, with only 14 spots available.
“With the new format of the selection process (external link) being open to J-school and non-journalism students alike, to be chosen from a much larger applicant pool demonstrates the enduring power of a TMU J-school education,” he said.
To the winners, Mohabeer wished to say, “Congratulations on your tenacity for going through a rigorous selection process and best wishes as you join a select group of extraordinary journalists who have shared this experience before you.”
Meet our three winners representing Journalism at TMU:
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
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Vashisht graduated from J-school in 2025, and she is currently a student in the master of media in journalism and communication program at Western University.
She views journalism as a public service and herself as a vessel for the diverse and meaningful stories Canadians have to share. Over the last two years, she has held various roles at the Globe and Mail as a digital content editor, newsletter producer, freelance writer and researcher. She has interned at Global News Toronto and later worked as an editorial assistant and race-caller during Ontario’s 2025 provincial election.
Whether covering protests at Queen’s Park or interviewing famous Hollywood names at the Toronto International Film Festival, Khushy is eager to take every opportunity the industry has to offer her. However, community-based stories will always hold a special place in her heart–she has worked as both a reporter and editor at various student publications at TMU, including being the communities editor at its independent newspaper, The Eyeopener.
She believes student journalism is a pillar in the overall industry as it spotlights the importance of local coverage.
What does it mean to you to be one of the recipients?
It feels absolutely surreal to be one of the recipients of this year's CBC News Summer Scholarship. To be quite frank, I still experience imposter syndrome from time to time, so to be recognized by one of Canada's largest media outlets and to get the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans is incredibly fulfilling.
It's not something I take lightly, and I aspire to put everything I’ve got (and then some) into this program.
How do you hope this opportunity will shape your journalism career?
I hope this opportunity tests all the knowledge I've acquired thus far and allows me to branch out of my comfort zone.
The latter half of this program requires scholars to be placed at one of CBC's regional stations across the country, which I am not only extremely excited for, but also hoping it provides me with the confidence to tackle any challenge presented my way.
With a unique experience in a new city, which has its own needs and goals, I hope the endeavour allows me to be a sharper thinker, a more compassionate journalist, and overall, a better person.
Advice for other young journalists who want to put themselves out there and achieve similar goals?
My biggest piece of advice for other young journalists is to be relentless. Fill out every application, connect with dozens of professionals on LinkedIn and work up the courage to ask them for a coffee chat (they will likely be flattered and agree), and don't stop yourself from trying things because you think you aren't good enough.
You need to be the first person to believe in yourself before anyone else can! Word of mouth is everything in this industry, so stay resilient, resourceful, and acquire a diverse multimedia skill set.
Tiller is currently completing her Master of Journalism at TMU. She’s passionate about reporting on food, politics, society and the human condition. She interned at CBC Radio’s The Current and has worked as an associate producer on the CBC streaming team. Her work has appeared in outlets and magazines across Canada, including TorontoToday, Pique Newsmagazine, the Georgia Straight, King Snow Magazine and more.
She’s pursuing a journalism career because she finds people fascinating and enjoys hearing them speak about things they love, hope for, or want to see changed.
What does it mean to you to be one of the recipients?
To me, this is representative of the incredible community around me. I've been lucky enough to have supportive mentors here at TMU, particularly professors Eternity Martis and Dr. Nicole Blanchett, who instilled confidence in me and taught me foundational journalism skills.
The MJ program also facilitated my application to the six-week CBC internship last spring, which was an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise, and it allowed me to meet even more mentors in the field.
How do you hope this opportunity will shape your journalism career?
I believe this scholarship program will allow me to broaden my multimedia skills.
My regional placement will be in Vancouver, where I hope to develop videojournalism skills. I've developed a passion for audio, so I'm also really excited to learn from the team at Day 6 during my network rotation. Adding to my skill set will help me determine which area I’m most interested in, and I’m excited to discover what that will be.
Advice for other young journalists who want to put themselves out there and achieve similar goals?
It can be intimidating to send your pitch to an editor or reach out to a journalist you admire for career advice, but push yourself to do it!
The worst thing they can say is "no." I’ve had many pitches rejected, and I’d suggest reminding yourself of your "why," keep going, and remember that each "no" gets you closer to an eventual "yes!"
Zhong is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism at TMU, where she has sharpened her skills across broadcast, digital and multimedia storytelling.
Her curiosity has taken her around the globe. During an exchange in Singapore, she reported on overtourism, animal welfare and systemic housing pressures; the experience strengthened her ability to report in unfamiliar environments and adapt quickly to new cultural contexts.
Zhong has worked at CBC’s national radio program The Current, first as an intern and later as an associate producer, where she pitched and produced original segments. She has also produced and hosted bi-weekly segments on her campus radio station, written broadcast news for her campus TV station and worked as accredited press at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
Whether she is reporting on Paralympians, government policy or court proceedings, she strives to bring humanity to her work. Olivia loves a feel-good story and is passionate about making news tangible, engaging and exciting for her generation.
What does it mean to you to be one of the recipients?
It’s an honour to continue my growth at CBC, but more importantly, it’s about a deep sense of responsibility to the stories that matter most to Canadians. I’m so excited to put my passion into practice and bring a fresh, engaging energy to the stories that resonate with audiences.
How do you hope this opportunity will shape your journalism career?
Collaborating with a new team and immersing myself in a different community will help me grow into a more versatile journalist.
Beyond expanding my perspective, I am interested in making news feel more essential and engaging for a younger audience. I hope to leave this experience with a clearer sense of the narratives I want to lead and the impact I want my work to have.
Advice for other young journalists who want to put themselves out there and achieve similar goals?
Start by reporting on a bit of everything; find the topics that aren’t being reported on and cover them from the heart. If you aren't excited about the stories you’re telling, it’s hard to make the audience care.
Find your spark and let it lead your reporting, and newsrooms will see that passion.
