19 January 2010

Diversity, labour reporting awards
a hit among student journalists

Two new student journalism awards sponsored by CWA Canada were a big hit at the annual conference of the Canadian University Press.

The contests for diversity and labour reporting drew a large number of entries, says Michael D'Souza, director of human rights at the CBC branch of the Canadian Media Guild, the national union's largest Local.

He was on hand at the gathering in Edmonton on the weekend to present the $500 prizes to the two winners (runners up got magazine subscriptions).

Tim Mitchell took first place in diversity reporting for "Black rights advocate refuses to quit," published in the Dalhousie Gazette. (Dalhousie University, Halifax NS)

First place for labour reporting went to Meaghan Kelly for "Korex strike approaches its first anniversary," published in the Ryerson Free Press. (Ryerson University, Toronto ON)

In the diversity category, runners up were Lucy Scholey ("Lesbian hand-holding survey a problem for some" / Dalhousie Gazette) and Jillian Kestler-D'Amours ("Fading into focus" / The Link / Concordia University, Montreal).

In the labour category, runners up were Maia Britt Odegaard ("Diary of a Beekeeper" / Peak / Simon Fraser University, BC) and Renata Valz ("Walk a mile in CUPE 3903's shoes" / Excalibur / York University, Toronto).

Judges were Lara Bradley of the Sudbury Star, Jan Wong of Toronto and D'Souza, the diversity member-at-large on the CWA Canada executive.