In this episode, Ginella Massa, a Canadian television journalist and news anchor on CBC’s Canada Tonight, is interviewed by the CPI’s associate producer Gabrielle Pyska, and Lexi Freehill, a student in MRU’s Journalism and Digital Media Program. Together, they discuss issues of inclusivity in the media sector including representation, allyship and self-advocacy. This interview was a part of Mount Royal University’s fourth annual International Women’s Day Event, where students and faculty spoke to a variety of female voices and leaders.

GUEST:Ginella Massa

Ginella Massa is a Canadian Screen Award-winner best known as Canada’s first hijab-wearing television news reporter, local anchor, and national host. She is currently the host of CANADA TONIGHT WITH GINELLA MASSA airing weeknights at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBC News Network.

Massa made history in 2015, believed to be the first television news reporter in North America to wear a hijab on-air when she was hired as a Video Journalist for CTV News in Kitchener, Ontario. She made international headlines again after anchoring the evening newscast at CityNews Toronto in 2016.

With over a decade of experience in news, behind-the-scenes and on-air, Ginella has worked for both local and national news outlets, in television and radio. Her on-air credits include CTV News, CityNews, Newstalk 1010 and Rogers TV. Her writing has been published by The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Chatelaine, and Refinery29 Canada.

Raised in Toronto, Massa graduated with an Honours BA in Communication Studies from York University, and has a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Seneca College.