Deadline: January 31, 2026
Applications are invited for the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award 2026. The Hanson Award is administered by The Canadian Journalism Foundation and offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The annual internship is designed to give a photographer trying to break into the business the chance to perform on the national stage.
Tom Hanson was a photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut-and-thrust of the House of Commons told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images of the last 15 years.
When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country’s photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.
Benefits
- The winning applicant will be paid a salary equivalent of the start rate for photographers at The Canadian Press. Award winners will be expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.
Eligibility
- Applicants will be accepted from Canadian photojournalists with less than five years experience. This can include students, freelance photographers or photographers currently employed at regional or non-daily publications.
- The successful applicant must be willing to work at the head office of The Canadian Press in Toronto during the internship.
- Successful applicants must have their own basic camera gear. Long lenses and video cameras will be supplied by The Canadian Press when necessary.
Application
- Submit a detailed proposal of no more than 1,000 words on how you would use this internship to expand your experience as a photojournalist. The Hanson Award is geared toward photographers looking to break into daily photojournalism on the national or international stage, so applicants should focus on how the internship would help them accomplish this goal.
- Submit a portfolio of at least 12 and no more than 25 photos.
- Each photo must be captioned. It may also include a brief background explanation on how the photo was captured.
- Applicants may also submit a multimedia presentation that includes video.
- Include your resume. Applicants may also submit a letter of recommendation from a current employer or teacher, although this is not mandatory.
For more information, visit Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.
