Premier Awards - Outstanding Columnist (Circulation up to 1499, Circulation 1500 to 3999, Circulation 4000 to 6499, Circulation 6500 to 9999, Circulation 10000 to 12499, Circulation 12500 to 17499, Circulation 17500 and over, Digital - Population under 10K, Digital - Population 10-99K, Digital - Population 100K plus)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Eastern Graphic (Montague, PE) Judge Comment: Paul MacNeill is a strong opinion writer and not afraid to ruffle feathers in P.E.I. in writing columns about tourism, provincial politics and health. At the core of each piece is working to highlight the lack of transparency, the need for accountability and concisely telling why people should care about each issue. In each of his submissions, MacNeill is not afraid to call out the powers that be what is wrong, why it’s wrong, how it’s hurting people he’s writing for and doing so in a well researched informative manner.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Pique Newsmagazine (Whistler, Pemberton, BC) Judge Comment: In each of his three submissions, Braden Dupuis of the Pique Newsmagazine shows he has expert knowledge of Whistler and area. His attention to detail in highlighting key community issues, working sources for information and having a strong historical knowledge of the issues at play helped his columns stick out. From calling out local government, writing on artificial intelligence and a humorous take on reviewing Google reviews of Whistler, Dupuis helps readers understand the local issues and why they matter.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Hill Times (Ottawa, ON) Judge Comment: From Indigenous Peoples, climate change and federal governance, Rose LeMay tackles complex and delicate topics most writers would shy away from. LeMay does so with skilled writing and understanding as well as a focus on the topic from start to finish. From the very first sentence, LeMay is able to quickly express what the column is about and back up everything she writes. Not only expressing her belief, she outlines why it’s important for the public to consider topics such as having Indigenous representation in Parliament, systemic victimization of Indigenous Peoples and whether economic goals will win over against climate change. LeMay is able to offer a perspective few readers may have had before reading her work.
