Media Advisory - New media guests announced: The Canadian Journalism
Foundation 13th Annual Awards Gala

Prestigious Excellence in Journalism awards presented on June 10th

TORONTO, May 28 /CNW/ - Former Le Devoir editor Lise Bissonnette and RIM co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are among the honorees at the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) 13th Annual Awards Gala, held on June 10 at the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto.

The awards gala is the Canadian news industry's must-attend event, where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top newspeople. This year, the CJF celebrates its 20th anniversary and excitement surrounding the gala has reached an all-time high.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bissonnette by Chantal Hébert, while Balsillie and Lazaridis will receive a special CJF Tribute. Peter Mansbridge hosts the gala dinner where prominent journalists, media executives, business and public sector leaders come together to celebrate excellence in journalism. The annual event caps off with the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Excellence Award in the large and small media categories.

    
    What:  13th Annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards Gala

    Where: The Fairmont Royal York Hotel - Canadian Room - 100 Front Street
           West

    Who:   Lise Bissonnette, former editor of Le Devoir
           Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, co-CEOs of Research in Motion
           Hosted by Peter Mansbridge, CBC News senior correspondent
           Canadian Journalism Foundation chair John Macfarlane

           Some of the prominent business, community and journalists expected
           to attend include: Andy Barrie, David Beers, Tony Burman, Andrew
           Coyne, Joe Fiorito, Sarah Fulford, Chantal Hébert, Heather Hiscox,
           Hana Gartner, Lisa LaFlamme, Kirk LaPointe, Linden MacIntyre,
           Carole MacNeil, Trina McQueen, Don Newman, Peter C. Newman, Carol
           Off, Seamus O'Regan, Lloyd Robertson, Alison Smith, Mark
           Starowicz, John Stackhouse, Brian Stewart, Diana Swain, Anna Maria
           Tremonti and many more...

    When:  Thursday, June 10th
           Cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m.
           Awards ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m.
           Final presentation at 9:00 p.m.

    Why:   Important presentations throughout the evening include:
           -  Lifetime Achievement Award to Lise Bissonnette in honour of her
              illustrious career as a former parliamentary correspondent,
              editorialist and editor-in-chief of Le Devoir
           -  Special tribute to RIM co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis
              for their contribution in revolutionizing the technology of
              modern journalism
           -  Excellence in Journalism Award to two Canadian news outlets
           -  Presentation of the Canadian Journalism Fellowships, the
              Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy, the Greg Clark Award and
              the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award
    

Social media release for photos and videos: http://tinyurl.com/y9k4xkd

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; and by organizing events that facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, politicians, government officials and academics about the role of the media in Canadian society.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media Contact information: Canadian Journalism Foundation, Heather McCall, Program Manager, [phone], [email protected]; Research In Motion, Marisa Conway, Brodeur Public Relations, [phone], [email protected]