Get a Paid Six Week Photojournalism Internship 2026: Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award at The Canadian Press

If you’re a photographer who dreams of seeing your images run across the national newswire, the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award is one of the clearest short paths to that stage. The prize is simple but valuable: a six‑week paid internship at The Canadian Press (CP) head office in Toronto, designed for early‑career shooters who want to prove they can work at daily, national scale. Think of it as an intensive apprenticeship on deadline, with access to editorial editors, national assignments and gear you may not own yet.

This award carries Tom Hanson’s name — a photographer who captured high stakes politics and vivid sports moments across Canada and beyond. The program was created by friends, family and colleagues to preserve his spirit: curiosity, technical excellence and the instinct to be where the story is. If you want to move from regional bylines and Instagram galleries to fast, exacting news work that publishers notice, this internship is a real opportunity. But it is also competitive and practical: you’ll need to bring the right portfolio, a crisp plan for how you’ll use six weeks, and the willingness to be in Toronto for the duration.

Below I walk you through everything that matters — what the award actually gives you, who should apply, how judges think, and a week‑by‑week plan you can adapt for your application. This guide will help you submit a focused, professional package that improves your odds of being the one phone call that changes the arc of a career.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

Beyond the obvious — paid time inside one of Canada’s major newsrooms — the Hanson Award is designed to give you a realistic, hands‑on experience of daily photojournalism. During the six weeks you’ll work under newsroom pressure: quick turnarounds, editorial selection, filing to a wire, and collaborating with copy editors and desk producers. That kind of training is hard to replicate in a classroom or as a weekend freelancer.

Financially, the award pays at the entry photographer rate at The Canadian Press. Exact dollar figures vary with CP’s pay scale, but you’ll receive a salary that covers living costs for the internship period. Note, however, that winners are expected to cover travel and housing themselves. So when you budget, factor in Toronto rent for six weeks, transit costs and incidental expenses.

What you’ll get editorially is even more valuable. You’ll be on the assignment board and have chances to work national and possibly international stories through CP’s networks. You’ll learn the newsroom’s expectations for speed and clarity, and you’ll hone disciplines that editors look for: accurate captions, reliable metadata, and images that communicate instantly. If you want to be a photographer who can shoot, edit, and deliver under time pressure — the kind news organizations hire — this internship is a short accelerator.

You’ll also come away with relationships. Editors and photo desk staff who see your work will become references or future employers. Past winners have used this kind of exposure to land staff roles or to build portfolios that win larger freelance contracts. Finally, CP can supply long lenses and video equipment when needed, which gives you a chance to try tools you might not own—helpful if you want to add sports or video to your skill set.

Who Should Apply

This award is aimed at photographers at the start of their careers — people with raw talent and some published work, but not yet established in national daily photojournalism. That includes recent photojournalism graduates who have produced student publications, freelancers who cover local news or sports, and staff shooters from regional or non‑daily outlets seeking to move onto the national stage.

If you’re a student about to graduate, this is a golden time to apply. You’ll have recent projects to showcase and the flexibility to relocate for six weeks. If you’re a regional photographer covering city hall, festivals or community sports, consider whether your portfolio demonstrates a wider range: can you show quick response to breaking events, intimate portraits and pictures that place subjects in context? The judges will look for versatility.

Freelancers who work on assignment but haven’t yet had sustained exposure to national news operations will benefit too, provided they can document a few strong news sequences in their portfolio. The award expects applicants to be Canadian photojournalists with less than five years of experience, so if your resume lists positions or freelance credits beyond that threshold, this may not be for you.

You must be willing to work at CP’s Toronto head office during the internship. If relocating for six weeks is impossible, don’t apply — winners are expected in Toronto. You’ll also need your own basic camera gear; CP fills specific needs like long lenses and video kit when assignments demand it, but you should be confident with essentials: a reliable body, a standard zoom, flash and basic editing workflow.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

This section is where good applications separate from forgettable ones. Judges want photographers who’ll flourish inside a newsroom — not just beautiful image‑makers but fast, accurate, and editorially minded shooters. Here are the tactical moves that actually help.

1. Tell a story with your portfolio. Twelve to twenty‑five images is not just a number, it’s a narrative constraint. Use that range to present a few short sequences: a breaking news assignment with multiple frames, a portrait pair, a sports sequence, and one or two environmental or feature images that show context. Avoid 20 near‑identical frames of the same moment — variety and editorial judgement matter.

2. Caption like a pro. Each photo must be captioned. Treat captions as part of your journalism. Write who, what, when, where and why in clear sentences. If a shot required special access or technique, add a one‑line background note. Poor captions are the fastest way to get bounced; precise captions show you understand the editorial flow.

3. Craft a focused proposal. You have 1,000 words to explain how the internship will expand your experience. Don’t ramble. State your immediate goals: for example, “I want to learn wire editing, speed workflow for daily output, and improve sports shooting with long lenses.” Outline measurable learning objectives and how you’ll use CP resources—editors, assignment desk, and equipment. Finish with what you’ll do after the internship to apply your new skills.

4. Show speed and judgement. Editors pay attention to candidates who can shoot, select, and file quickly. If you can, include a project that demonstrates your edit choices — show three images from a single event and explain why you chose them. If you have experience filing to client systems, say so.

5. Demonstrate ethics and accuracy. Newsrooms run on trust. If you’ve followed ethical guidelines (model releases, permissions, sensitive reporting), explain it briefly in your resume or proposal. Cite specific examples where you navigated difficult ethical choices.

6. Include multimedia samples if you have them. Photojournalism increasingly demands hybrid skills. If you can include short video clips or multimedia pieces that show you can shoot and edit short sequences, that’s a plus. CP provides video when needed — but showing you can handle basic video makes you more versatile.

7. Get a referee if possible. A letter of recommendation is optional but useful. If you worked with a mentor, editor, or professor who can vouch for your reliability and on‑deadline performance, include that.

Application Timeline (Work backwards from January 31, 2026)

Start at least six to eight weeks before the deadline. Good applications don’t happen the night before.

• Six to eight weeks out: Map your portfolio. Decide which 12–25 images tell the strongest editorial story about your abilities. Draft your 1,000‑word proposal; keep it to one page unless the guidelines ask otherwise. Reach out to a referee if you want a letter.
• Four to six weeks out: Refine captions and metadata. Make sure each image has accurate EXIF and IPTC info and the captions are publication‑ready. Assemble your resume and any multimedia files. Ask two people — one editor and one non‑specialist — to read your proposal.
• Two weeks out: Final polish. Convert images to the requested format and resolution (check CP’s site for file specs). Proofread every caption and the proposal. If you’re submitting online, test uploads on the system you’ll use.
• 48 hours before deadline: Submit. Don’t wait. Systems fail and internet connections die. Early submission also gives you the chance to confirm receipt.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

You’ll need a concise, professional package. Treat it like a job application.

• A detailed proposal (max 1,000 words) explaining how you’ll use the internship. Structure this with objectives, methods (what you’ll do day‑to‑day), and expected outcomes. Keep it concrete; name skills or beats you want to learn.
• A portfolio of 12–25 photos. Each image must be captioned. If possible, include series that show narrative ability and a range that includes news, feature, portrait and sports or environmental context.
• Resume. Emphasize relevant experience: published work, internships, awards, and technical skills (photo/video editing software, file transfer experience).
• Optional: multimedia/video samples and a letter of recommendation. If you submit video, keep files short — editors will review quickly.
• Technical housekeeping: include captions with byline, date, location, and a one‑line context note where necessary. Embed or attach contact details and make sure file names are professional (LastName_First_Shot1.jpg).

Preparing tips: run your photographs through a fresh critical edit. Ask an editor or experienced photographer to flag weak images. Confirm that every image adds value. Tighten captions until they’re both factual and concise.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Judges look for a combination of editorial instinct and practical readiness. The strongest candidates demonstrate:

• Editorial judgment: images that tell a clear story at first glance and would work on the front of a national wire.
• Versatility: the ability to shoot different types of assignments — breaking news, posed portraits, sports sequences, and contextual features.
• Technical competence: good exposure, composition, focus, and reliable metadata and captions. Clean files that are ready to publish show professionalism.
• Speed and readiness: examples or explanations of filing under deadline and working with editors.
• Learning plan: a proposal that shows you know what you don’t know and have a realistic plan to fix that over six weeks.
• Professionalism: well‑formatted materials, prompt correspondence, and referees who can vouch for reliability.

A standout application reads like a promise you’ll be a dependable newsroom shooter — someone an editor can assign without hand‑holding.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many applications fail for avoidable reasons. Don’t make these mistakes.

First, sloppy captions. A strong image with a wrong date or an incorrect place will raise flags about your attention to detail. Proof every caption.

Second, overstuffed portfolios. Resist the urge to show everything you’ve ever shot. Too many similar images dilutes the editorial message. Be ruthless — quality over quantity.

Third, weak proposal. Vague statements about “gaining experience” don’t convince judges. Specify what you’ll learn and how you’ll measure that learning.

Fourth, ignoring logistics. If you can’t afford Toronto expenses and don’t explain how you’ll manage them, judges might worry you won’t be able to commit. Be honest: explain housing plans or support arrangements if necessary.

Fifth, late submission or incorrect formats. Read the submission instructions carefully. Wrong file types or incomplete packages are an easy reason to be rejected.

Finally, poor presentation. Typos, broken links, or messy file names suggest a lack of professionalism. Treat your package as you would a magazine assignment — carefully edited and impeccably presented.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: The award accepts Canadian photojournalists with less than five years of experience. That includes students, freelancers, or photographers currently at regional or non‑daily publications. If you’re unsure whether your experience counts, contact the program organizers early.

Q: Do winners get travel and housing paid?
A: No. The salary covers pay at CP’s starting rate for photographers, but winners are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs while in Toronto.

Q: Does the internship require full‑time presence?
A: Yes. The successful applicant must be willing to work at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for the six‑week period.

Q: What gear do I need?
A: You must have your own basic camera gear. CP will supply long lenses and video cameras when necessary for assignments, but you should be comfortable with your primary equipment and editing workflow.

Q: Can I submit video or multimedia?
A: Yes. Applicants may submit a multimedia presentation that includes video. If you have strong short clips that demonstrate journalistic video skills, include them to show versatility.

Q: Is a letter of recommendation required?
A: No. Letters are optional, but a strong recommendation from a current employer, editor, or teacher can reinforce your reliability and editorial judgment.

Q: What happens after I apply?
A: Typically, applications are reviewed and a winner selected. Timelines for notification vary, so check the official page or contact the organizers for confirmation windows.

How to Apply

Ready to apply? Here’s a short checklist and the essential link.

1. Finalize your portfolio: 12–25 images, each with a clear, publication‑ready caption. Assemble images in one PDF or as instructed on the official page.
2. Write your proposal: one page, 1,000 words max. State specific goals and a week‑by‑week learning plan.
3. Prepare your resume and optional reference letter(s).
4. Double‑check formats, file names and metadata. Make sure each photo has IPTC caption and contact data embedded.
5. Submit before January 31, 2026. Don’t wait until the last day.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page for submission instructions and full details: http://graphics.thecanadianpress.com/graphics/tomhansonaward/index.html

If you have questions about eligibility, technical submission or deadlines, contact the program administrators through the official page before you submit. Good luck — and if you win, bring a spare battery and an appetite for deadlines.