CAJ cancels 2020 national conference in Montreal

OTTAWA, March 16, 2020 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is sad to announce that it is cancelling the upcoming national conference and changing the format of its in-person awards gala. The conference was scheduled to take place in Montreal from May 29-31.

"Our top priority is ensuring the safety of journalists and the public at large as this public health crisis continues to develop," said CAJ president Karyn Pugliese. "We will shortly announce an alternative plan to honour the excellent work of this year's nominees and winners." 

While it remains unclear what the public health situation for large events will be like in late May, the uncertainty around current and future protocols make it impossible to plan a quality conference for our members.

The CAJ awards jury continues to review and deliberate this year's nominations. The short list will be released as planned on April 6 with the final winners announced online on May 30.

The CAJ board is currently exploring options for online training and networking opportunities to fill the gap of this year's conference and support the needs of our members. A set of best-practices for journalists covering the COVID-19 pandemic will be made available soon.

The CAJ board thanks members for their understanding and support during this time.

The Canadian Association of Journalists is a professional organization with more than 700 members across Canada. The CAJ's primary roles are public-interest advocacy work and professional development for its members.

SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists