John H. McDonald Journalism Foundation

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The John H. McDonald Journalism Foundation is the charitable foundation of the Canadian University Press. It aims to serve all student journalists with educational programs and opportunities, regardless of whether they work for a CUP member paper or not.

The foundation was established February 19, 1987 and named after CUP’s first president, John H. McDonald, an editor of The McGill Daily who won the position in a coin toss. Though the inspiration for starting the foundation came from a desire to help support CUP’s 50th anniversary, JHM was ultimately created to provide student journalists with the expertise they need to keep the student press lively and strives to aid student journalists in skill and career development.

With CUP’s 50th anniversary approaching in 1987, it became evident that CUP would need more money than individual member papers could afford to pay in order to hold the gala affair that CUPpies and CUP alumni desired. And, as usual, the regular CUP budget was tight. Realizing that there was also a need to promote the organization, as well as student journalism in Canada, the CUP executive decided to create a registered charity foundation to give corporations and individuals more incentive to donate.

Since its establishment in 1987, JHM has contributed to the education of student journalism by helping to fund national conferences, funding the creation of style guides and writing guides, created opportunities for writing positions across the country, and held an annual awards ceremony celebrating student journalism. The opportunities for JHM to provide education to young journalists are endless, and the Foundation aspires to establish mentorship and internship programs in the future.