Every year, The Local conducts a diversity survey among our staff and contributors as part of our ongoing commitment to tackle issues of race, representation, and diversity. In 2024 we sent our survey to 39 contributors and received 30 responses, a 77 percent response rate.
In 2024, 53.3 percent of our respondents identified as non-white. This is higher than the Canadian industry average of 33 percent.
In terms of gender representation, 46.7 percent of our contributors identified as female, slightly lower than the industry average of 49.3 percent, and 10 percent of our contributors identified as non-binary, which is higher than the industry average of 0.7 percent for non-binary.
This year, we also surveyed our contributors to determine the number of journalists we work with who identify as living with a disability. Among our contributors, 10 percent identify as living with a disability. The Local is among a handful of outlets that collect this data and national numbers are not reported widely, so there is no industry average for comparison.
More from this issue
Early-Career Journalism Fellowship
A joint undertaking of The Local and The Philanthropist Journal, the fellowship provides one Black and/or Indigenous journalist an opportunity to write about issues that matter to their community and civil society.
Neethan Shan Wins Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election
In a crowded field, the longtime local politician was elected back to city council on a call to put Scarborough first.
Live Results From the Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election
Real-time results from election night, starting at around 9 p.m. on September 29, 2025.
In the Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election, Candidates Promise to Put Scarborough First
In a crowded by-election in Toronto’s most eastern ward, is focusing on hyper-local issues the way into City Hall?
Here Are the Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election Candidates
The only place to find fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for every candidate running for Ward 25—Scarborough–Rouge Park in the September 29, 2025 by-election.
Meet Chloë Ellingson, the Newest Member of The Local
The Toronto photojournalist joins The Local as our first Visuals Editor
The Local Wins Eight Media Awards
Editor-in-Chief Tai Huynh was recognized for his exemplary leadership in journalism on a night of big storytelling wins for The Local
Meet the 2025 Local Fellows
We’re thrilled to introduce this year’s Local Journalism Fellows: Moyo Lawuyi, Vikram Nijhawan, and Mayumi Ramos.
At Toronto’s Catholic Schools, Students Twice as Likely to Opt Out of Mandatory Measles Vaccine
In the midst of a measles outbreak, data analysis by The Local finds that 15 of the 20 schools with the highest vaccine exemption rates are in the Catholic boards.