Premier Awards - Best Local Civic Journalism ( Circulation 10000 to 12499,Circulation 12500 to 17499,Circulation 17500 and over)
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Place Name:
First Place
Contestant Name:
Cambridge Times (Cambridge, ON)
Entry Title:
Three stories published about Civic Journalism
Entry Credit:
Bill Doucet
Judge Comment:
These stories take pains to explain the problem and most importantly, how it affects people, and what local government is doing about it, plainly and clearly. Strong, evocative ledes in all 3 pieces, with clean writing and strong paraphrases, using quotes only when they contribute to a story - a welcome rarity in civic journalism.
Very good, clear civic journalism that focuses on who is being impacted and how rather than bogging down in process, policies and motions. Well done.
Place Name:
Second Place
Contestant Name:
North Shore News (North/West Vancouver, BC)
Entry Title:
Top staff members exit West Vancouver
Entry Credit:
Jane Seyd
Judge Comment:
Trouble is brewing in West Vancouver city hall, and the North Shore News has the receipts. From allegations of election mis-spending to senior staff exoduses and harassment investigations involving the mayor, Jane Seyd does a comprehensive and balanced job of telling readers what they need to know about their local leadership. Excellent work throughout, giving everyone the chance to address issues and demonstrating research and initiative to get to the story behind the story. Municipal malfeasance is always significant.
Place Name:
Third Place
Contestant Name:
The Lake Report (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
Entry Title:
$10K cash exchange
Entry Credit:
Richard Harley, Kevin MacLean
Judge Comment:
The envelope of cash is a common trope in novels, but rarely happens in real life.
Good comprehensive sourcing from all the relevant players with background research on relevant rules. The questionnaire to all councillors and the accompanying explainer to the reader are also welcome.
The Lake Report takes this stranger-than-fiction story and does it justice. Good work. If this isn't relevant to the community, then nothing is.
Competition Comment:
Lots of excellent work in this category, a lot of it around homelessness issues. The winners in the category went above and beyond in scope of coverage, initiative, research, and above all, explaining how the issues being covered affect the reader - that's who civic journalism is for, in the end.
