Great writing and photography at Black Press are being recognized at the B.C. & Yukon Community Newspapers Association’s 2012 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards.
Fourteen Black Press papers in BC are nominated for General Excellence, including the Victoria News and Oak Bay News.
The company is also nominated for 20 individual writing awards and is up for 14 photography awards. Kudos go to Greater Victoria Black Press photographer Don Denton for his colour feature photo Totem gets its groove on, and Sharon Tiffin for her black and white feature photo Happy Fisherman which are both finalists.
Monday Magazine picked up seven nominations in the awards’ 37 categories – including six writing awards – which places them as a leader among Island competitors.
The Oak Bay News' special salute to former Mayor Christopher Causton is a finalist for a special section award.
BCYCNA judges had 1,800 entries to review, with the monumental task of selecting the top three in each category. Black Press overall took 76 finalist spots out of 132. The winners will be announced during the awards gala on April 14 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond.
Check out the full list of writing nominees here:
BCYCNA WRITING AWARDS
Arts & Culture Writing Award
• Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Ashley Degraaf: Keeping that old fire burning
• Richmond News, Eve Edmonds, Alan Campbell, Michelle Hopkins & Chung Chow: Arts alive in Richmond
• Vancouver WestEnder, Jessica Barrett: Writing on the Wall
Business Writing Award
• Monday Magazine, Mary Ellen Green: Ugly sweaters for all
• Nanaimo News Bulletin, Toby Gorman: Beekeepers anxious about winter results
• New Westminster Record, Christina Myers: In business: making ‘fun’ of allergies
Columnist Award
• Abbotsford News, Andrew Holota: Insight into “what were they thinking?”; Hockey fans
• Monday Magazine, Brian Kieran: Driver testing is designed to fail seniors; Campbell retains power to inspire outrage
• Vancouver Courier (West Side Edition), Mark Hasiuk: Self‐righteous moralists dominate casino debate; Candidates court Chinatown while enabling its downfall part of the anarchy
Editorial Award
• Monday Magazine, Grant McKenzie & Timothy Collins: Code of Justice: Kimberley Proctor’s killers will face a fate worse than death
• Nanaimo Daily News, Paul Walton & Dustin Walker: North Nanaimo needs low barrier project; Cantelon has inflamed the housing issue; lies about low‐barrier facility unhelpful
• Vancouver Courier (West Side Edition), Barry Link: Why you should vote
Environmental Initiative Award
• Coquitlam Now, Jennifer McFee: School diverts 85 per cent of waste
• Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Peter W. Rusland: Pointed bid made for waterfront park
• Vancouver Courier (East Side Edition), Naoibh O’Connor: Earth tones
Environmental Writing Award
• Monday Magazine, Mary Ellen Green: Dying to stay green: Victorians are making end‐of‐life decisions with the same values as they lead their lives
• North Shore News, James Weldon: B.C. aphrodisiac contains cadmium
• North Shore Outlook, Sean Kolenko: Sink or Swim
Feature Article Award
• Chilliwack Times, Tyler Olsen: Lost girl
• Kamloops Daily News, Catherine Litt: Walking tall: She was a 78‐year‐old woman on a 426‐kilometre expedition
• Monday Magazine, Danielle Pope: No Shame: Healing the Wounds
Feature Series Award
• Nanaimo Daily News, Dustin Walker: Legacy of Fear
• The Chilliwack Progress, Jenna Hauck & Eric Welsh: Teenager’s life turned upside down
• Vancouver Courier (West Side Edition), Mike Howell: Riot
John Collison Memorial Award for Investigative Journalism
• Keremeos, The Review, Steve Arstad: Helping for humanity’s sake
• Revelstoke Times Review, Aaron Orlando: Forests ministry knew of conditions in squalid camps; workers not yet paid
• Surrey, North Delta Leader, Jeff Nagel: Justice Denied
Neville Shanks Memorial Award for Historical Writing
• Monday Magazine, Danielle Pope: Remember Us: Chinese Canadian vets honour the country that cast them aside
• North Shore News, James Weldon: A separate peace
• Revelstoke Times Review, Aaron Orlando: Does ‘Revelstoke’ meteorite hold evidence of extraterrestrial life?
Outdoor Recreation Writing Award
• Campbell River Mirror, Alistair Taylor: Youths escape death in river incident & Trees and high water create hazard on the river
• North Shore News, Manisha Krishnan: Going downhill ‐ fast
• North Shore Outlook, Maria Spitale‐Leisk: Breathtaking Journey
Sports Writing Award
• Abbotsford News, Dan Kinvig: Picking up the pieces
• Langley Times, Gary Ahuja: Football fills family void
• Vancouver Courier (East Side Edition), Bob Mackin: A stadium reborn
PHOTO/CARTOONIST AWARDS
Feature Photo Award, Black & White, Over 25,000
• Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Andrew Leong: Drawing the boundaries
• Maple Ridge‐Pitt Meadows News, Colleen Flanagan: Vigil for two young souls alike
• Victoria News, Sharon Tiffin: Happy fisherman
Feature Photo Award, Black & White, Under 25,000
• The Interior News, Jon Muldoon: Tubing on Tyhee
• Yukon News, Justin Kennedy: Starry night
• Yukon News, Mike Thomas: Reflecting face
Feature Photo Award, Colour, Over 25,000
• Campbell River Mirror, Paul Rudan: Journey begins for Phillips chinook
• Richmond News, Chung Chow: Taking flight … a chickadee prepares to go airborne from a cherry blossom tree in Garry Point Park
• Victoria News, Don Denton: Totem gets its groove on
Feature Photo Award, Colour, Under 25,000
• Eagle Valley News, Lachlan Labere: True inspiration
• Salmon Arm Observer, James Murray: Watch the birdie
• Shuswap Market News, James Murray: Share and share alike
Photo Essay Award
• Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Andrew Leong: The Exhibitionists
• Gulf Islands Driftwood, Susan Lundy & team : Day in the Life of Salt Spring Island
• Powell River Peak, Alicia Baas: Game day
Portrait/Personality Photo Award
• The Chilliwack Progress, Jenna Hauck: Latimer and Tractorgrease break boundaries
• Yukon News, Ian Stewart: Business portrait
• Yukon News, Mike Thomas: Helicopter pilot
Sports Photo Award, Over 25,000
• North Shore News, Cindy Goodman: Jammin’
• North Shore News, Mike Wakefield: Fly‐by‐kite operation
• Penticton Western News, Mark D. Brett: Bring her down
Sports Photo Award, Under 25,000
• Coast Reporter, Justin Samson: Coastal Seshins
• Gulf Islands Driftwood, John Cameron: Driven to Ride
• Quesnel, Cariboo Observer, Percy N. Hébert: Great snag
Spot News Photo Award, Over 25,000
• Campbell River Courier‐Islander, Dan MacLennan: Free four all
• Cowichan Valley Citizen, Kevin Rothbauer: Three homes, three days, three fires
• Vancouver Courier (West Side Edition), Dan Toulgoet: Riot
Spot News Photo Award, Under 25,000
• Nelson Star, Megan Cole: Delivering a Macabre Message
• Quesnel, Cariboo Observer, Percy N. Hébert: Trapped
• Yukon News, Mike Thomas: Car meets motorcycle
Cartoonist Award
• North Island Gazette, Lawrence Woodall: No title, on Commentary page
• Powell River Peak, Wendy Brown: HST Referendum
• Vancouver Courier (West Side Edition), Geoff Olson: Dog heaven
SPECIAL NEWSPAPER AWARDS
Special Section Award, Over 25,000
• Abbotsford News, Dan Kinvig & Cristine MacDonald: Faceoff
• Cowichan Valley Citizen, Andrea Rondeau, Lexi Bainas, Sarah Simpson & Kevin
Rothbauer: Valley food something to crow about
• Surrey, North Delta, White Rock Now, Marlyn Graziano, Beau Simpson, Kim Rose & Margot Gauley: Possabilities
Special Section Award, Under 25,000
• Coast Reporter, Ashley Doyle: Horizons 2011
• Oak Bay News, Oliver Sommer, Penny Sakamoto, Jennifer Blyth, Tricia Stringfellow & Brian Pert: Salute to Mayor Causton
• Whistler Question, Eric MacKenzie & John Magill: GranFondo Whistler
Website & Online Innovation Award
• Abbotsford News, Don Barbeau & Cristine MacDonald: My Ride
• Kamloops Daily News, Mark Rogers: Kamloops Daily News website
• Yukon News, Mike Thomas: Yukon News
Ma Murray Community Service Award
• North Shore Outlook, Staff: Back to School
• Richmond News, Michelle Hopkins, Eve Edmonds & Chung Chow: Bank feeds city’s body, mind and soul
• Richmond Review, Mary Kemmis: Ethel Tibbits Awards raises record amount
NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Newspaper Excellence Category A
• Bowen Island Undercurrent (B)
• Bridge River News (G)
• North Thompson Times (B)
Newspaper Excellence Category B
• Fernie Free Press (B)
• Hope Standard (B)
• North Island Gazette (B)
Newspaper Excellence Category C
• Gulf Islands Driftwood (B)
• Salmon Arm Observer (B)
• Squamish Chief (G)
Newspaper Excellence Category D
• Coast Reporter (G)
• Oak Bay News (B)
• Whistler Question (G)
Newspaper Excellence Category E
• Cowichan News Leader Pictorial (B)
• New Westminster Record (G)
• Parksville/Qualicum Beach News (B)
Newspaper Excellence Category F
• Langley Advance (G)
• Peace Arch News (B)
• Victoria News (B)
Newspaper Excellence Category G
• Abbotsford News (B)
• Kelowna Capital News (B)
• Surrey, North Delta Leader (B)