OTTAWA, May 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Michael Robinson, of The Telegraph-Journal in Saint John, New Brunswick will be recognized as the winner of the 21st Press Freedom Award at the annual luncheon celebrating the UNESCO-designated World Press Freedom Day.
Robinson's tenacious investigation—in the face of opposition from the provincial government—exposed a critical shortage of paramedics that put peoples' lives in danger, the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF) said in making the award.
The Press Freedom Award is given annually to recognize a Canadian journalist or media organization that pursued stories of public interest in the face of official roadblocks and intimidation. It will be awarded at the press freedom luncheon on May 2, which begins at noon at the Ottawa's National Arts Centre, Canada Room.
Keynote speaker will be Steven J. Adler, President and Editor-in-Chief of Reuters, and Board member of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The lunch is hosted by the CCWPF with the support of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian Bankers' Association.
"Canadian journalists work in a country of relative freedom, but we still have to be vigilant because we sometimes witness glaring examples of that freedom being threatened or frustrated, and Robinson's experience is one of them," CCWPF President Shawn McCarthy said.
Honourable mention goes to Marie-Maude Denis, with Enquête of Radio-Canada, for her protracted legal fight to protect the confidentiality of sources she used for a story that led to the prosecution of several former Quebec Liberal government officials on corruption charges.
"Denis' case will be the first test of the new Journalistic Sources Protection Act of 2017," McCarthy said.
The Spencer Moore Award for Lifetime Contributions will be awarded to Ken Rubin, Senior Fellow at Ryerson's Centre for Free Expression, and a tireless advocate for freedom of expression. He has helped promote improvements in freedom of information and privacy protection legislation in Canada, including amending the federal access act to penalize officials for record alteration violations.
This award is named in honour of the late Spencer Moore, a founding director of CCWPF.
Editorial Cartoon Contest Winners
Luc Descheemaeker of Belgium is the first prize winner in the 19th editorial cartoon contest, another popular feature of CCWPF's annual celebration. Winner of 270 international cartoon awards, the retired art teacher is also a humour photographer.
Second prize winner is Bruce MacKinnon, editorial cartoonist at the Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
The third prize goes to Gustavo Caballero Talavera (known as Guffo) of Mexico. Ten Awards of Excellence will be given as well.
"We received about 370 entries from 29 countries," said CCWPF director and cartoon contest coordinator Guy Badeaux, who will present the prizes.
Editors can access high resolution versions of the cartoons at:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zr82067sgjzkn68/AADbW0ZKMjsxnkNK0MEgz5BZa?dl=0
The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom is a volunteer group of journalists, former journalists and supporters who work to defend media freedom at home and abroad.
SOURCE Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom
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