Montreal, April 16, 2025 - The Youth Media Alliance is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 edition of the Steven DeNure Scholarship, a flagship initiative designed to support the emergence of new talent in Canada’s youth content sector. Companies interested in participating have until May 16, 2025, at 5 p.m. (ET) to submit their applications.

A Valuable Opportunity for Emerging Creators

The Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is pleased to launch the 2025 Steven DeNure Scholarship, created to encourage and support YMA members in offering paid, immersive professional experiences in English or French. These internships are aimed at students or emerging producers who wish to gain hands-on experience with a production company or broadcaster working in the children’s content industry.

The program seeks to foster the development of skilled industry professionals by placing young talent with studios, production companies, or broadcasters that can provide practical training opportunities—from development and scriptwriting to production and marketing.

 

A Commitment to Diversity

The YMA is firmly committed to promoting greater diversity in the children’s content industry and strongly encourages applications from interns who identify as part of equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, neurodivergent people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

 

Financial Support

Each internship offers a total remuneration of $9,000 over a 12-week full-time period, based on a 40-hour work week at a weekly rate of $750. The YMA provides $4,500 in funding, and the mentoring company must match this amount.

Additionally, if travel is deemed to be in the intern’s best interest, the YMA may, at its discretion, offer financial assistance to the mentoring company to help cover travel and/or event registration expenses.

 

Number of Internships

Over the next three to four years, one or two companies will be selected annually to offer mentorship and receive this financial support, depending on available funds.

Each year, a call for applications is issued in the spring, with a deadline usually around mid-May.

 

Eligibility Criteria

For mentoring companies:
    •    Must be a YMA member, including broadcasters, production companies, or Canadian studios.
    •    Must have a head office located in Canada.
    •    Must provide a financial contribution of at least $4,500.
    •    Must find and propose a qualified intern to the YMA.
    •    The proposed intern must not already be employed by the company or be related to any employee.

For interns:
    •    Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
    •    Must be legally entitled to work in Canada under applicable provincial laws.
    •    Must be currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution.
    •    Must not already be employed by the mentoring company or be related to any of its employees.

 

Application Process & Timeline

Application Requirements:

Mentoring companies must submit the following:
    •    Online application form
    •    Proposed work plan (upload)
    •    Intern’s CV (upload)

Deadline:

Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (ET).

 

Selection Process & Final Report

Applications will be reviewed by a YMA committee based on overall merit. One or two companies offering the most robust skills development and employment potential will be selected.

Selection criteria (subject to regional and representation considerations) may include:
    •    Clearly defined internship and skills development objectives
    •    Relevance and quality of the proposed work plan (job description, training diversity, mentorship supervision)
    •    Learning opportunities, career goals, and relevant prior experience (professional or volunteer)
    •    Commitment to the children’s content industry

Decisions made by the committee are final. Due to limited funding, some strong applications may not be selected.

End of Internship:

Interns must submit a two-page report outlining their experience upon completing the internship.

 

A Unique Opportunity to Learn and Grow

This grant offers a rare and meaningful opportunity for young professionals to gain hands-on experience in the children’s media industry while being guided by seasoned experts. YMA encourages its members to participate in this program, which plays a key role in building a skilled, committed, and diverse next generation of creators.

To learn more or to submit an application, visit: https://www.ymamj.org/en/scholarship-steven-denure