Michener Awards Foundation announces Fellowship winners

OTTAWA, May 20, 2014 /CNW/ - The Michener Awards Foundation today announced the winners of the 2014 Michener-Deacon Fellowships

The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Journalism Education is awarded to Francine Pelletier. The Montreal-based journalist has worked in both French and English media. She was a former reporter and co-host for CBC the fifth estate and parliamentary correspondent in Quebec City for SRC's Le Point. She is currently a writer and independent filmmaker and writes a weekly column for the Montreal daily newspaper, Le Devoir.

She will devote her time at Concordia University organizing workshops on big data journalism and elements of digital information in order to help young journalists in finding tools to better contribute to mass and public information.

The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for investigative reporting is awarded to veteran CBC journalist Rita Celli. Her project is entitled "Stock Traders, Money Lenders, Companies or Everyday Joe: Who is getting rich from Ontario's multi-billion dollar mining Industry?"

As host of Ontario Today on CBC Radio she has become knowledgeable about how Canadian resources matter to the public good. She plans to examine the public policy questions raised by the profits generated by the mining Industry, providing her research findings to all available platforms, radio, television and online.

The Investigative Journalism fellowship is supported by the BMO Financial Group. It allows a journalist to devote up to four months for a reporting project. Applicants are required to undertake a project that aspires to the criteria of the annual Michener Award for journalism with its emphasis on making an impact for the public good.

The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Journalism Education, supported by the Michener Awards Foundation and the Family of the late Paul S. Deacon, is dedicated to the advancement of the education of Canadian journalists. The winner is required to spend time at a recognized Canadian journalism school, teaching or mentoring students, and also pursue personal education interests.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will host the Michener Awards ceremony at Rideau Hall on June 11 where the Michener-Deacon Fellowships will be presented and the winner of the 2013 Michener Award will be announced.

The Michener Award, founded in 1970 by the late Right Honourable Roland Michener, then Governor-General of Canada, goes to a news organization. The judges' decisions are heavily influenced by the degree of public benefit generated by the print and broadcast entries submitted for consideration.

Judges for the 2014 Michener-Deacon Fellowships:

Clinton Archibald, retired professor of public ethics, Saint Paul University, Ottawa; Michael Goldbloom, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec, and former publisher of The Gazette and the Toronto Star; Susan Mitton, former regional director, CBC Maritimes; Ivor Shapiro, chair, Ryerson School of Journalism; Maryse Cardin, instructor, School of Communications, Capilano University, North Vancouver.

Image with caption: "Rita Celli (CNW Group/Michener Awards Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140520_C2684_PHOTO_EN_2213.jpg

Image with caption: "Francine Pelletier (CNW Group/Michener Awards Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140520_C2684_PHOTO_EN_2214.jpg

SOURCE: Michener Awards Foundation

Michener Awards Foundation : Russell Mills, [phone], x 5179, email: [email protected]; Web sites: www.michenerawards.ca, www.prixmichener.ca; Rideau Hall Press Office : Julie Rocheleau, Rideau Hall Press Office, [phone], e-mail: [email protected]