TORONTO, Nov. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Photojournalists looking to gain national exposure are welcome to apply for the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award. This award provides a unique opportunity to cover breaking news, major sports and key cultural events in Toronto for six weeks for The Canadian Press. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 7, 2016.
This award is open to Canadian photojournalists who have been in the business fewer than five years. Complete award criteria and application instructions, along with the online application form, are available on the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award page.
Last year's winner was Marta Iwanek, who previously worked on contract for the Toronto Star and interned with the Waterloo Region Record. In addition to shooting breaking news, her assignments at the wire service included covering the Blue Jays, the federal election and Fashion Week.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to give young photojournalists a chance to expand their skills," says Iwanek, currently a freelance photographer based in Toronto. "I felt so welcomed, supported and challenged at the same time, which provided a great environment to learn in.
"While photographing a baseball game, I was reminded of the importance of knowing the narrative and being able to recognize the subtle pictures that tell the story of the game and the season so far. At a marathon finish line, I learned to focus on where the action will be rather than where it currently is, reinforcing the importance of anticipating the image."
Iwanek's report on her experience and a sampling of the photos she took while at The Canadian Press can be found online. You can also view the original portfolio she submitted to the jury.
The winner of the 2016 Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award will be announced in February. The award will be formally presented at the annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards on June 15, 2015 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
This award is generously supported by Nikon.
ABOUT THE TOM HANSON PHOTOJOURNALISM AWARD
#tomhansonaward
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and The Canadian Press launched the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award in 2009 in memory of award-winning photojournalist Tom Hanson. The award offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The selection committee is made up of CJF board members, photographers and photo editors from The Canadian Press and daily newspapers and members of Mr. Hanson's family. The winning applicant will complete the internship between April and September 2015, and be paid at the start rate for photographers at The Canadian Press.
ABOUT TOM HANSON
Tom Hanson was a photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut-and-thrust of Parliament told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images over a 15-year period. When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country's photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award
SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation
Image with caption: "Marta Iwanek, the recipient of the 2015 Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award, captured this image of cloud cover obscuring the view of the blood moon eclipse in Humber Bay Park in Toronto on September 27. Applications are now being accepted for the award. Deadline: January 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marta Iwanek (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151124_C6323_PHOTO_EN_551965.jpg
Wendy Kan, Program Manager, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, [email protected] or 416-955-0975; Graeme Roy, Director of News Photography, The Canadian Press, [email protected] or 416-507-2167
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