Canada's Best Newscasts: CTV News Properties Take Home Top Honours from RTDNA Awards

- CTV News receives 13 National awards adding to 34 Regional honours for Bell Media -

TORONTO, June 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Tonight from a gala event in Toronto, CTV News properties were honoured at the annual RTDNA National Conference. Celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the association of electronic journalists, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME proudly takes home the Bert Cannings Award for Best Network Newscast. With 13 new wins, tonight's prizes bring the total of National and Regional RTDNA Awards for Bell Media properties this year to 47, including five honourable mentions.

In addition to the prize for Best Network Newscast, CTV News' highlights of the night included the Best Newscast win for one of CTV Edmonton's broadcasts on the Slave Lake Disaster; a repeat win of Best Newscast for CTV Barrie's NEWS AT SIX; CP24's prize for Best Spot News for their coverage of the death of Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell; and W5's award recognizing their investigation of police shootings and the failings of the SIU. Also notable for this year, CTV Ottawa's News Director Peter Angione was honoured with the RTDNA Distinguished Service Award, and CTV Atlantic's Steve Murphy was given a Lifetime Achievement Award (Atlantic Region, Television).

"It is an honour to be recognized by the RTDNA for the great work produced by CTV News," said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. "The CTV News team once again is recognized as best-in-class across the country. The passion, persistence, and service to communities and the nation in the work that these journalists do is truly remarkable and so deserving of the recognition they received by our industry tonight."

A complete summary of Bell Media's 2011 RTDNA awards, including the awards given out this evening, is below:

National and Network Awards (Awarded June 23, 2012, Toronto)

Bert Cannings Award - Best Newscast

• CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME (Network Television)
• CTV Edmonton for "Slave Lake Disaster" (National Television, Large Market)
• CTV Barrie for CTV NEWS AT SIX (National Television, Medium Market)

Charlie Edwards - Best Spot News

• CTV NEWS for "Bodies Discovered" (Network Television)
• CP24 for "In The Line Of Duty" (National Television)

Dan McArthur Award - In-Depth/Investigative

• CTV W5 for "Above The Law" (Network Television)
• CTV Montreal for "Dirty Little Secrets" (National Television)

Dave Rogers Award - Short Feature

• CTV Regina for "Project First Goal" (National Television, Medium Market)

Dave Rogers Award - Long Feature

• CTV Montreal for "Caught In A Trap" (National Television, Large Market)
• CTV Regina for "Return To Willow Bunch" (National Television, Medium Market)

Ron Laidlaw - Continuing Coverage

• CTV Edmonton for "Slave Lake Fires" (National Television)

Trina McQueen Award - News Information Program

• CTV Saskatchewan for "Cashing Normal" (National Television)

Hugh Haugland Award - Creative Use of Video

• CTV Montreal for "Path To Parenthood" (National Television)

Regional Awards: British Columbia (Awarded April 14, 2012, Burnaby, BC)

Bert Cannings Award - Best Newscast

• CTV Vancouver Island for CTV NEWS AT FIVE (Medium Market)

Dan McArthur Award - In-Depth/Investigative

• CTV British Columbia for "The Business of Sex"

Dave Rogers Award - Short Feature

• CTV Vancouver Island for "Goats Predict Playoff Win" (Medium Market)

Dave Rogers Award - Long Feature

• CTV Vancouver Island for "Haunted Island" (Medium Market)

Trina McQueen Award - News Information Program

• CTV British Columbia for "First Story - Death of a Carver"

Hugh Haugland Award - Creative Use of Video

• CTV British Columbia for "Soup Sisters"

Digital Media Award

• CTV British Columbia for "CTV News Digital Edition"

Byron MacGregor Award - Best Newscast

• CFAX 1070 Victoria for "Victoria @ Noon, December 13^th" (Medium Market)

Regional Awards: Prairie Region (Awarded April 14, 2012, Winnipeg)

Bert Cannings Award - Best Newscast

• CTV Regina for CTV NEWS AT SIX (Medium Market)
• CTV Edmonton for "Slave Lake Disaster" (Large Market)

Charlie Edwards Award - Spot News

• CTV Edmonton for "Slave Lake Fire"

Dave Rogers Award - Short Feature

• CTV Regina for "Project First Goal" (Medium Market)

Dave Rogers Award - Long Feature

• CTV Regina for "Return to Willowbrunch" (Medium Market)

Ron Laidlaw Award - Continuing Coverage

• CTV Edmonton for "Slave Lake Fires"

Trina McQueen Award - News Information Program

• CTV Saskatchewan for "Chasing Normal"
• CTV Regina for "Silent Epidemic" (Honourable Mention)

Hugh Haugland Award - Creative Use of Video

• CTV Calgary for "Muay Thai"
• CTV Calgary for "Rock Guitar Shelter" (Honourable Mention)

Regional Awards: Atlantic Region (Awarded April 14, 2012, Dartmouth, NS)

Adrienne Clarkson Award - Diversity

• CTV Atlantic for "Hanukkah"

Trina McQueen Award - News Information Program

• CTV Atlantic for LIVE AT 5

Regional Awards: Central Canada (Awarded June 21, 2012, Toronto)

Bert Cannings Award - Best Newscast

• CTV  Barrie for CTV NEWS AT 6 (Medium Market)

Adrienne Clarkson Award - Diversity

• CTV Southwestern Ontario for "Many Faces, One Force"

Charlie Edwards Award - Spot News

• CP24 for "In The Line Of Duty"

Dan McArthur Award - In-Depth/Investigative

• CTV Montreal for "Dirty Little Secret"

Dave Rogers Award - Short Feature

• CTV Sault Ste. Marie for "Lilli's Room" (Small Market)
• CTV Southwestern Ontario for "Battery Heart" (Medium Market)
• CTV Sudbury for "Tower Take-Down" (Honourable Mention, Medium Market)
• CTV Ottawa for "Amazing People" (Honourable Mention, Large Market)

Dave Rogers Award - Long Feature

• CTV Windsor for "Boblo Island" (Medium Market)
• CTV Montreal for "Caught In A Trap" (Large Market)

Hugh Haugland Award - Creative Use of Video

• CTV Montreal for "Path to Parenthood"

Byron MacGregor Award - Best Newscast

• CKLW AM 800 Windsor for "7 a.m. News" (Medium Market)
• 580 CFRA Ottawa for "7:30 a.m. News" (Large Market)

Dan McArthur Award - Spot News

• 580 CFRA Ottawa for "Inside the Ottawa Police Cellblock" (Honourable Mention)

About RTDNA
RTDNA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTDNA Canada recognize the responsibility of electronic journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTDNA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in the profession.

About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media entertains, informs and inspires Canadians. Bell Media owns 28 conventional stations, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and owns and operates 29 specialty channels, including TSN, Canada's #1 specialty channel and RDS, Canada's #1 French-language specialty channel. Bell Media also owns 33 radio stations, dozens of websites including the Sympatico.ca portal, and Dome Productions. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

- Bell Media -

Renee Dupuis, Bell Media, 416.384.3154 or [email protected]
Patricia Garcia, Bell Media, 416.384.2645 or [email protected]
Shannon Gallagher, Bell Media 416.384.4623 or [email protected]