|
01 May 2006
New journalism award promotes
better coverage
of labour issues
Canadian
Media Guild | TNG Canada
Local 30213
The Canadian Media Guild has established
a $2,000 award to encourage excellence in
labour journalism and lead to a greater public understanding
of labour issues.
"Coverage of the CBC lockout showed us that labour
reporting is often centred on the strike or lockout deadline
and not on the very important issues at stake," says
Lise Lareau, national president of the CMG. "We
would like to recognize and reward good work in
this field when it happens and hopefully encourage better
issue-oriented labour reporting in the future."
The union approved creation of the annual award at its convention
in Calgary April 28 to 30. It will recognize print, broadcast
and new media journalists whose work has:
• Advanced the public’s
understanding of an issue or set of issues facing either
the labour movement or organized workers in Canada.
• Shown innovation in broadening the coverage of trade
unions and labour issues beyond “crisis reporting” of
disputes such as strikes and lockouts.
The report must have been published or broadcast in
Canada by a media outlet that offers
a diverse package of general news designed to reach a mass
audience. Since the award is designed to encourage labour reporting
by the general news media, work appearing in labour-related
or other alternative publications is not eligible.
Judges will take into account the impact of the report and
whether it contributed to legislative, legal or other significant
change.
Submissions must be received by June
30, 2006.
The winner of the award shall be invited
to receive it at the major annual meeting of the CMG. The
cash award will be accompanied by a wall plaque. Runners-up
will receive wall plaques recognizing their accomplishments.
The judging will be done by a panel of six, including a
chairperson selected by the national executive committee
of CMG, journalists, and active and leading members of organized
labour in Canada.
|