J-Source and ProjetJ honoured with CAJ President's Award

TORONTO, April 30, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Project, best known for its English and French websites J-Source and ProjetJ, is the recipient of the Canadian Association of Journalists President's Award.

The President's Award recognizes a significant contribution to Canadian journalism. The distinction, which is given only under circumstances of exceptional merit, was presented Saturday night at the CAJ awards gala in Toronto.

"The Canadian Journalism Project highlights excellence in Canadian journalism and allows a place to consider and discuss it with those who take interest," says CAJ president Hugo Rodrigues. "It was an easy decision to recognize this commitment for its exemplary contribution to journalism."

Since its inception in the spring of 2007 under the leadership of Ryerson University journalism professor Ivor Shapiro, the project's websites have become a comprehensive source for information, analysis and discussion on the craft of journalism in Canada.  Its initial group of partners — which includes the CAJ — now includes almost every Canadian university and some college journalism programs, media outlets and other journalism organizations.

"J-Source is based on something journalists aren't normally very comfortable with: collaboration," says Janice Neil, J-Source editor-in-chief. "But we have a great deal of collaboration with journalism professors, working professionals who volunteer their time to run sections, Canada's journalism schools and other journalism organizations. I'm very proud of our success and the passion that drives our writers and readers."

Anne Caroline Desplanques, ProjetJ's editor-in-chief, was also at the gala to accept the award. "I would like to thank the CAJ for this outstanding honour, the many volunteers who make this adventure possible in both languages, and to our readers without whom our work would not have any meaning," she said.

The Canadian Journalism Project joins a distinguished list of past winners, which include media lawyers Paul Schabas, Brian Rogers, Peter Jacobsen, John Norris, Jason Gratl and Bert Bruser; late Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi; and former Le Journal de Montreal crime reporter Michel Auger.

The Canadian Journalism Project is funded by The Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Please visit www.j-source.ca  and www.projetj.ca.

About the Canadian Journalism Foundation
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement through an annual awards program; by operating journalism websites, J-Source.ca (English) and ProjetJ.ca (French), in cooperation with the country's leading journalism schools; by organizing events that facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, government officials, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society; and by fostering opportunities for journalism education, training and research.

For more information, visit www.cjf-fjc.ca.

Wendy Kan
Canadian Journalism Foundation
59 Adelaide St. East, Suite 500
Toronto, ON M5C 1K6
[email protected]
416-955-0394 x502