In terms of success, Imani Walker seems to know where she’s headed. I sat down last week with the third-year Ryerson journalism student to hear her take on the world of journalism and bringing something special to the table. Imani is Co-Executive producer of RUtv News and a writer for Yonge Magazine.
Photo Credit: Jacklyn Gilmor
You’re Co-Executive Producer of RUtv News. How do you balance that responsibility with school, your job, and a social life?
I think it’s just about prioritizing. I think about it like this: Beyoncé has 24 hours in a day, and [she] gets stuff done, [so] I can do it too.
So what do you love most about being a young journalist?
I feel like people who are older might not be as into stories about diversity or breaking stigma about certain topics such as racism, mental illness, or discrimination, and that’s what I like to do. Being someone who’s younger, I like being able to have that insight within this group that’s always changing.
Has journalism always been a dream for you?
I didn’t fully realize I wanted to be in journalism until the last year of high school. I guess I’ve always had that passion in storytelling, I just didn’t realize until later on that that’s what journalism is.The foundation has always been there.
What do you want to bring to your career field that’s special?
Honestly, representation. Being a woman of colour and being in a position of leadership, that in itself is representation. I’m not the norm of what you would think to see on screen— someone with curly hair, dark skin, short. I want to show people that skin or class or gender is not a barrier to getting where you want to be.
Do you have any advice for aspiring journalists?
I know a lot of people, including myself and my friends, will have ideas but they’ll let something get in the way. My advice would be just to do it. If you have an idea for an article, pitch it. Don’t think that just because you’re younger, you are less or that you can’t do it. Don’t let doubts stop you from doing what you want to do.
Can you describe any interesting experiences that you’ve had as a journalist?
I went to [cover] the anti-Islamophobia protest on March 4 for my class. There were two protests happening. One was against a bill [Bill M-103] that protects the Muslim community; [the other] was in solidarity with the Muslim community. So I had to keep going back and forth between the two sides. When I went to the side that was against the bill, there was a Muslim woman standing there [who] was trying to say “this is my religion. Not all Muslims are terrorists.” This was maybe a five-foot-two girl, and there were three full-grown men standing in her face and yelling, and I was like “When do I step in?” I’ve been told not to interfere and lead the story somewhere it wouldn’t have gone naturally. But at the same time, just as a human being, as a woman, I’m seeing this girl who’s literally the same age as me being yelled at by three grown men. So I stepped in and was like, “Hey, step back!” After a while, the police [intervened, but] I left crying. I didn’t know people were that against other people here in Canada. But I was happy that I stepped in and made that decision for myself. It was probably the craziest thing I’ve ever covered.
(You can find Imani’s moving post and photos about her experience at the protest here.)