Canadian Journalism Foundation announces finalists for CJF Jackman Award for Excellence
TORONTO, April 18, 2017 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce the shortlists for the CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism, recognizing news organizations that embody exemplary journalism that impacts positively the communities they serve. Finalists are recognized in two categories: large and small media.
Since 1996, the CJF has honoured news organizations that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – accuracy, independence, accountability, courage and originality – with this prestigious award.
"While we once again have strong entries from large news organizations, the breadth of issues addressed, the depth of the research and the quality of story telling from smaller media outlets highlights the tremendous work being done in small newsrooms across the country," says Chris Waddell, jury chair and associate professor of the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University.
The five finalists in the large media category (more than 50 full-time employees) and the work that highlights their excellence are:
The Canadian Press
For its "Open Secret" series exploring sexual trauma involving children in Indigenous communities, an issue rarely acknowledged in public policy circles and is considered to be closely intertwined with other Indigenous challenges related to residential schools, murdered and missing women and youth suicides. Among the stories:
"Open secret: sexual abuse haunts children in indigenous communities,"
"Solving the legacy of indigenous sexual abuse: think globally, act nationally" and
"Indigenous sexual abuse likely to dominate inquiry into murdered, missing women."
CBC News Vancouver
For exposing inadequacies in provincial treatment facilities, revealing challenges facing police and drug enforcement officials and giving a human face to fentanyl addicts by spending time at drug hang outs. Its "Frontlines of Fentanyl" coverage across TV, radio and online included "Downtown Vancouver ER is ground zero of opioid overdose crisis."
Global News
For exploring the "energy poverty" crisis in rural Ontario caused by rising hydro rates, forcing some people to choose between keeping on their lights or putting food on the table. The coverage included these stories:
"New data highlights hydro affordability crisis for rural Ontario,"
"Hydro One leaves family of six without electricity for months" and
"Exclusive: Hydro One to reconnect more than 1,400 customers currently without power."
The Globe and Mail
For exploring the reasons behind B.C.'s roaring real-estate market, a yearlong probe that exposed flaws in both the industry and public policy. See, for example,
"The real estate technique fuelling Vancouver's housing market."
Winnipeg Free Press
For tackling Indigenous issues and reconciliation from three angles, examining remedial efforts at both the federal and provincial levels and through art. Among the stories:
"Flood plan lacking: audit,"
"Northern Stars" and
"Searching to end the heartbreak."
The five finalists in the small media category (fewer than 50 full-time employees) and the work that highlights their excellence, are:
CBC Thunder Bay
For exploring the circumstances that fuelled the tragedies of seven First Nations students who died—between 2000 and 2011—while attending high school in Thunder Bay, Ont. The stories included:
"Deep Water,"
"First Nations Student Deaths' Inquest" (in-depth coverage) and
"First Nations Student Deaths' Inquest" (live feed).
The Coast (Halifax)
For a feature story detailing a previously-unreleased internal audit by Halifax Regional Police that uncovered the department's habit of losing track of cash and drug exhibits seized as evidence. See "Continuity Errors."
Discourse Media (Vancouver based)
For producing a body of work related to resource development, Indigenous press freedoms and the ongoing police profiling of Indigenous peoples on the Prairies that contributes to their disproportionate representation in Canada's prisons. Among the stories:
"What made this Haida clan potlatch so historic?,"
"In First Nations, freedom of the press is unclear" and
"Canada's prisons are the 'new residential schools' " (collaboration with Maclean's).
London Free Press/lfpress.com
For a series exposing serious problems in Ontario's justice and mental-health-care systems as well as in local policing and health care as seen through the lens of a man who died in solitary confinement at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre. See "Indiscernible."
Metro Toronto
For its "Deadly Streets" campaign, which ensured that the city made a priority of preventing pedestrian and cyclist deaths by tracking road deaths, investigating them at the micro and macro levels and holding the city accountable. Examples include:
"The stats and the stories: Taking a tour through Toronto's deadly streets,"
"Redesigning Toronto's deadliest intersections" and
"Toronto's Deadly Streets in review: How the city embraced design as a safety solution."
The winners in both categories will be announced at the annual CJF Awards held at the Fairmont Royal York on June 8 in Toronto. For ticket, table and sponsorship opportunities of the gala event, visit the CJF Awards page.
The members of the jury are:
Chair - Christopher Waddell, associate professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University
Isabel Bassett, former Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation and former chair and CEO of TVO
Trina McQueen, adjunct professor, MBA Program in Arts and Media Administration, York University
Shauna Snow-Capparelli, associate professor, Bachelor of Communication-Journalism, Mount Royal University
Follow #CJFawards on Twitter.
About The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement. Our signature events include an annual awards program featuring a must-attend industry gala where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top news people. Through J-Talks, our popular speakers' series, we facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.
SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation
Natalie Turvey, Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, 416-955-0394, [email protected]
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