TORONTO, May 13, 2014 /CNW/ - Janet McFarland, a business reporter with The Globe and Mail whose reporting raised the issue of gender inequality on corporate boards, is the winner of the inaugural Landsberg Award.
Presented by The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) in association with the Canadian Women's Foundation, The Landsberg Award celebrates a journalist giving greater profile to women's equality issues. It recognizes a working journalist doing exceptional research, analysis and writing through a gender lens about women's equality issues in Canada across print, broadcast or online news from 2013.
"Janet McFarland stood out because she presents thought-provoking research and awareness of issues that stimulate systemic change," says Mina Mawani, a jury member and president and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation. "Her work is discussed at dinner tables and, more importantly, is driving change."
Having written extensively on governance, leadership, women in business and executive compensation, McFarland's pieces have led to the Ontario Securities Commission developing new guidelines on boardroom diversity.
"I have written about the lack of women in top leadership roles in business for many years because I felt the topic cries out for broader public attention," says McFarland. "I've been privileged to meet and write about many dedicated women and men who are working in different ways to boost the numbers of women on boards and in senior management roles. Their work is sparking a slow but profound change in regulations, practices and attitudes, and I want to commend them for their commitment and thank them for their support."
The award is named after Michele Landsberg—award-winning Canadian journalist, author, social activist and feminist—to acknowledge the tremendous impact she has had as an advocate and role model for women. McFarland will receive a $5,000 prize from the Canadian Women's Foundation.
A large number of submissions were considered by the jury, which included Landsberg along with men and women working in the media.
"It was wonderful to see entries from across the country. From print and radio and digital, from new names and well-known names on subjects as diverse as all the issues women face," says Sally Armstrong, the chair of the jury who is also an author, journalist and human rights activist. "A great beginning for The Landsberg."
The award will be presented at the 17th Annual CJF Awards on June 4 in Toronto at The Fairmont Royal York.
Twitter: #landsbergaward
About The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Founded in 1990, 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 organizing events that facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society; by supporting journalism websites, J-Source.ca English and ProjetJ.ca (French); and by fostering opportunities for journalism education, training and research.
About the Canadian Women's Foundation
The Canadian Women's Foundation is Canada's public foundation for women and girls. We empower women and girls in Canada to move out of violence, out of poverty and into confidence. Since 1991, we've raised money and invested in over 1,300 community programs across Canada, and are now one of the ten largest women's foundations in the world. We take a positive approach to address root causes of the most critical issues facing women and girls. We study and share the best ways to create long-term change and bring community organizations together for training and to learn from each other. We carefully select and fund the programs with the strongest outcomes and regularly evaluate their work. We have a special focus on building a community of women helping other women. Helping women creates safer families and communities, and a more prosperous society for all of us. We invest in the strength of women and the dreams of girls. For more information please visit www.canadianwomen.org.
Image with caption: "Janet McFarland, a business reporter with The Globe and Mail, is the recipient of the inaugural Landsberg Award. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140513_C8082_PHOTO_EN_40232.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Journalism Foundation
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