Senior Writer, Fifth Estate (English Services)

CBC/Radio-Canada; Toronto; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent broadcaster is seeking a Senior Writer for 'The Fifth Estate', a well-regarded investigative journalism program. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in investigative reporting, exceptional research skills, and the ability to produce compelling narratives across multiple platforms. Join this award-winning team that connects Canadians through impactful storytelling.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' relevant experience in investigative journalism.
• Exceptional online investigative research skills.
• Proven track record of ensuring diversity and creativity in storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Participates in the research and production of investigative programs.
• Contributes ideas and conducts detailed research for stories.
• Works collaboratively with producers and team members.

Skills

Investigative journalism

Research skills

Writing ability

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Creativity

Data journalism

Education

Degree in journalism or equivalent experience

Job description

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Position Title:

Senior Writer, Fifth Estate (English Services)

Status of Employment:

Permanent

Position Language Requirement:

English

Language Skills:

English (Reading - C - Advanced), English (Speaking - B - Intermediate), English (Writing - C - Advanced)

Work at CBC/Radio-Canada

At CBC/Radio-Canada, we create content that informs, entertains and connects Canadians on multiple platforms. Our successes and accomplishments are driven by embodying and upholding values, which include creativity, integrity, inclusiveness and relevance.

Do you think you have the ability and drive to keep up with this exciting, ever-changing industry? Whether it be in front of the camera, on air, online or behind the scenes, you would be joining a team that thrives on making connections and telling stories that are important to Canadians.

Unposting Date:

2025-07-08 11:59 PM

Senior Writer, The Fifth Estate

Please note there is a strong internal candidate for this role

Your role:

CBC News is hiring a full-time Senior Writer to work for The Fifth Estate, based in Toronto.

The Fifth Estate is one of the most prestigious and best-known programs at CBC News – a multiple-award winning documentary program that has been driving investigative journalism in Canada for nearly 50 years.

The successful candidate will have proven deep-dive research skills, an ability to identify potential stories that warrant a one-hour documentary-style treatment, and a track record of finding people, documents and other data to support investigative storytelling. The candidate will also have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other journalists to deliver high quality investigative journalism formatted for multiple platforms. The candidate will have the skills needed to work on long-term projects, and projects on tight timelines. They will be able to accept and interpret feedback as needed to participate in the production of a completed investigative documentary.

Working under the direction and supervision of a Producer and the Senior Producer, the successful candidate will be a proven journalist with exceptional critical thinking skills. They will demonstrate an understanding of the mandate of the program and be able to identify and pitch suitable stories for The Fifth Estate.

The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of the journalistic and production requirements needed to contribute to the development of material across multiple platforms (digital, video, audio).

Along with their editorial strengths, communication skills, and exceptional creativity, the successful candidate will be a committed team player.

They will thrive in the pressure-filled environment of a weekly program and be calmly able to face down challenges, whether they be logistics around gathering in the field, or the need to pivot quickly on a changing story.

They will be able to take feedback and adapt to changes in both editorial and legal vets.

In covering a broad range of current affairs stories, informing Canadians and enriching democratic life, we need to be as diverse in every way as the country we serve, both within our workforce and on air. As an employer, we value equal opportunity and nurture an inclusive workplace where our individual differences are not only recognized and valued, but also extend to and pervade all the services we provide as Canada's public broadcaster.

Function:

With appropriate direction from a Producer and the Senior Producer, the Senior Writer participates in the research, gathering, production and post-production of a program and/or program segment. Work must adhere to CBC journalistic and/or program policies, practices and standards but initiative and independent judgement are required.

Key Tasks:

• Contributes ideas for program content; pursues and collects research and information.
• Assists in developing program content including writing, researching, and/or editing.
• Gather material from a variety of carefully developed sources and organize it in a clear and concise manner.
• Provide detailed analysis that will be used to enhance the understanding of the listener or viewer. Participates in screenings/vetting process.
• Prepare and source line by line fact checking to high standard
• Sources interviewees, develops background material for Producer/Host.
• Writes, edits and packages stories for social and digital formats as needed.
• Participates in the evaluation of all aspects of the production.
• As required, performs the following tasks:
• any task of an Associate Producer and Reporter / Editor; create web site design and structure and organize and co-ordinate on-line content; edit, encode, digitize and package audio and video material for a website using appropriate technologies; prepare programs for the Internet, including coding in an appropriate format and manipulating images and graphics.
• Helps ensure the journalism adheres to CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
  
  

You are responsible for providing an updated resumé and highlighting the qualifications and skills required for this position.

We are looking for a candidate with the following:

• Degree in journalism or equivalent experience is considered to be an asset for this role.
• Minimum of five years' relevant experience during which the candidate would have gained exposure to investigative journalism
• Understanding of the legal considerations that are key to investigative work
• Exceptional online investigative research skills
• Data journalism skills and experience executing both long and short-term data projects
• Proven track record pitching, researching and delivering investigative content
• Broad experience in all aspects of story production including conducting pre-interviews, research, fact checking and ensuring stories meet CBC's Journalistic Standards and Procedures.
• Exceptional and creative writing ability
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity, and connection to diverse communities.
• Proven experience with cross-platform and multi-media work including the web, social media, podcasting etc.
• Excellent editorial judgment and critical-thinking skills.
• Creative approach and commitment to innovative story-telling across platforms.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-pressure environment and with tight deadlines, without sacrificing creativity or quality.
• Ability to take critical feedback and incorporate it into the work.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to clearly explain concepts to peers.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing work patterns and methods.
• Independent and self-motivated, combined with the ability to work well in a team environment.
• Proven track record of ensuring a diversity of voices is reflected in storytelling. Contributes to the diversity of perspectives on the team.
• High level of organization and productivity.
• Able to work flexible hours.
  
  

Candidates may be subject to skills and knowledge testing.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

As part of our recruitment process, candidates who advance to the next

step will be asked to complete a background check. This includes:

• A mandatory Criminal record check.
• Other background checks may be conducted based on the operational requirements of the position.
  
  

CBC/Radio-Canada is committed to being a leader in reflecting our country’s diversity. That’s because we can only create and tell the stories that connect Canadians, by having a workforce that mirrors the ever-changing makeup of our country. That’s why we, as an employer, value equal opportunity and nurture an inclusive workplace where our individual differences are not only recognized and valued, but also extend to and pervade all the services we provide as Canada’s public broadcaster. For more information, visit the Diversity and Inclusion section of our website. If you have accommodation needs at this stage of the recruitment process, please inform us as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to [e-mail].

You are invited to consult and familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct, which can be found on our corporate website. All employees must adhere to the Code as a condition of employment. We also invite you to take a look at our policy on conflicts of interest. In the event that you become an employee, it will be important to inform us, as quickly as possible, of any situation that, because of your hiring, constitutes or could appear to constitute a conflict of interest.

Primary Location:

Broadcast Centre 205 Wellington St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3G7

Number of Openings:

1

Work Schedule:

Full time

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing

• Industries

  Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

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