Canadian Journalism Foundation announces finalists for CJF Jackman Award for Excellence
TORONTO, April 19, 2018 /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.
"If your faith in journalism has waned this past year, these finalists will give you hope in the journalists and the media organizations that serve us," says Wayne Parrish, who serves as jury chair, and chair of the CJF's awards committee. "Their pieces demonstrate the best in Canadian journalism, using solid and creative reporting skills to hold power to account and give voice to those who have long gone unheard."
The links to all finalists' stories available on our awards page.
The five finalists in the large media category (more than 50 full-time employees) and the work that highlights their excellence are:
- CBC Edmonton, for "Private Health, Public Risk?," which reveals how a multi-millionaire Calgary oilman used his political influence to get Alberta's health minister to give Pure North, his private alternative-health foundation, a $10-million grant.
- Global News, for "Inadmissible," stories that revealed how Canada rejects hundreds of immigrants based on incomplete data and exposed the serious flaws with the way Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada handles permanent residency applications for persons with disabilities;
- The Globe and Mail, for its "Unfounded" investigation documenting systemic flaws and routine inadequacies in the ways police in Canada handle sexual assault complaints;
- Toronto Star, for "Undercover in Temp Nation," which exposed the devastating reality endured by thousands of temp agency workers who are abused, injured or killed on the job; and
- Toronto Star, Global News and National Observer, for "The Price of Oil," the largest Canadian journalistic collaboration of its kind, bringing together more than 50 journalists, students and instructors from four journalism schools - Ryerson University, Concordia University, Regina University and University of British Columbia as part of the National Student Investigative Reporting Network - and the three media outlets, along with the Corporate Mapping Project and the Michener Awards Foundation, to examine the hidden costs of the oil industry.
The five finalists in the small media category (fewer than 50 full-time employees) and the work that highlights their excellence are:
- CBC Nova Scotia, for revealing "Black people three times more likely to be street checked in Halifax, police say," after its investigation collected 11 years of street check data;
- The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton for stories revealing that the southwestern Ontario town of Petrolia's chief administrative officer lied about his ownership of two buildings—a youth centre and storage facility—which represented conflicts of interest;
- The London Free Press, for its seven-part series "27 Minutes," which followed one woman's winter car crash and drowning, but who was brought back to life thanks to a creative medical team—challenging the reader to think about whether scientific advancements or deep faith or both were responsible for Ashlyn Krell's astonishing recovery;
- Saskatoon StarPhoenix, for "Scooped: How I lost my mother, found my family and recovered my identity" that shed light on the Sixties Scoop and its connection to the Indian residential school system and its effect on one family; and
- Telegraph-Journal, for a series of stories, beginning with "'Go to hell,' family says after 39-minute ambulance wait," exposing a critical shortage of paramedics in New Brunswick's emergency response system, resulting in ambulances being taken off the road.
The winners in both categories will be announced at the annual CJF Awards held at the Fairmont Royal York on June 14 in Toronto. For ticket, table and sponsorship opportunities of the gala event, visit the CJF Awards page.
The members of the jury are:
Chair – Wayne Parrish, chair, awards committee, The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Isabel Bassett, former Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation and former chair and CEO of TVO
Joshua Benton, director, Nieman Journalism Lab, Harvard University
Colette Brin, director, Centre d'études sur les médias, Université Laval
Shachi Kurl, executive director, Angus Reid Institute
Rosemary Thompson, vice-president, marketing, communications and board relations, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
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, [email protected]
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