Media Advisory - Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award deadline is fast approaching - January 8

TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Only a few days are left for aspiring photojournalists to make the January 8, 2012 deadline for the third annual Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award. Applications are being accepted online for Canadian photojournalists who have been in the business less than five years - from students to freelancers to photographers working at regional publications - and who are looking for greater exposure and experience. Full details including specifics of the award criteria and application instructions are available at http://cjf-fjc.ca/awards_tomhanson. Finalists for the 2012 Tom Hanson Award will be interviewed by the selection committee in January with a winner announced in February, 2012. The award will be presented at the Canadian Journalism Foundation Annual Awards Gala on June 7, 2012.

Last year's winner, Aaron Vincent Elkaim, completed a six-week internship with The Canadian Press at their head office in Toronto. During his internship he covered many national news events, including Jack Layton's memorial and the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as sporting events such as the Rogers Cup tennis tournament and Toronto FC soccer. After the internship was over, Elkaim continued to freelance for CP during the Ontario provincial leadership election. Elkaim is currently working on a grant project in the Alberta oil sands and will return to Toronto to freelance for The Canadian Press and other news outlets later this year. His full report, including select images from his internship experience, is online at http://cjf-fjc.ca/content/aaron-vincent-elkaim-2011-tom-hanson-award-recipient.

ABOUT THE TOM HANSON AWARD
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and The Canadian Press launched the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award in 2009 in memory of award-winning photojournalist Tom Hanson. The award offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The selection committee is made up of CJF board members, photographers and photo editors from The Canadian Press and daily newspapers and members of Mr. Hanson's family. The winning applicant will complete the internship between April and September, 2012, and be paid a salary equivalent of the start rate for photographers at The Canadian Press.

ABOUT TOM HANSON
Tom Hanson was a swashbuckling photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut-and-thrust of the House of Commons told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images of the last 15 years. When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country's photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.

Wendy Kan, Program Manager
The Canadian Journalism Foundation
[email protected] or 416-955-0630 x502

Graeme Roy, Director of News Photography
The Canadian Press
[email protected] or 416-507-2167