Awards season recap
On Thursday May 20, 2021, the School of Journalism presented 53 awards to exceptional students at our annual Awards ceremony, including four new awards:
The Yusra Javed Memorial Scholarship for a bright journalism student from a diverse background who displays determination and tenacity in their reporting the way Yusra Javed did.
The Joe Schlesinger Memorial Award for demonstrated interest in international journalism and/or a demonstrated commitment to community service.
The Elmina (Elliott) Atkinson Award for a student who has demonstrated a proven interest in social justice reporting.
The Brian Stewart Scholarship established to support a student embarking on an international internship or to fund travel for an international student project. Due to the pandemic, donor Brian Stewart amended the criteria for this year to support a student undertaking an internship or project that required funding.
The full list of winners can be found on our website and the ceremony is available to view:
The School of Journalism would also like to congratulate the five students who won 2021 RTDNF Scholarships (external link) :
Broadcasters of Atlantic Canada Scholarship
Alex Cyr
Dataminr Digital Journalism Scholarship
Jemma Dooreleyers
CBC / Barbara Frum Scholarship
Joseph Fish
BNN / Jim O’Connell Scholarship
Josh Scott
JJ Richards Scholarship
Briana-Lynn Brieiro
In addition to our student winners, many alumni and faculty were honoured at awards ceremonies this Spring.
CJF Black Journalism Fellowship (external link)
Alum Tiffany Mboyo Mongu
This fellowship aims to amplify Black voices, improve coverage of Black issues in the news and cultivate future Black media leaders. With it, Mongu will explore two health issues: the lack of support in the healthcare system for Black Ontarians amid the pandemic and how Black, Indigenous and other women of colour are more vulnerable to face difficulties during childbirth.
The Landsberg Award (external link)
Alyshah Hasham and alum Wendy Gillis (Toronto Star)
Are women’s police stations a solution to gender-based violence in Canada? (external link)
Honourable mentions went to Jana Pruden and alum Molly Hayes (Globe and Mail).
CJF Lifetime Achievement Award (external link)
Thaioronióhte Dan David, former chair of diversity at Ryerson University’s School of Journalism
The Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University (external link)
Alum Pacinthe Mattar
William Southam Journalism Fellowships (external link)
Webster / McConnell Fellow
Alum Wency Leung
2020/21 CAJ Award Winners (external link)
Charles Bury Award (external link)
Former instructor Fred Vallance-Jones and Fall 2020 instructor David McKie
Broadcast Feature
Ken Volden, RTA alum Josh Shiaman, alum Rick Westhead, alum Matt Cade, Craig Chambers, Adam Fair, James Judges, Curry Leamen, Karl Roeder, Scott West, Kevin Fallis (TSN)
The Problem of Pain (external link)
2021 Digital Publishing Awards (external link)
Best Service Feature
Silver
Alum Sydney Loney (enRoute)
Day Tripping From Home: 12 Hours in Paris (external link)
Honourable mention
Alum Al Donato (HuffPost Canada)
Contributors: alum Chloe Tejada, reporter
How To De-Escalate A Mental Health Emergency Without Calling The Police (external link)
Best Column
Honourable mention
Nam Kiwanuka (TVO)
Contributors: Sarah Sweet, deputy editor; alum Graeme Bayliss, editor-in-chief
Does talking about racism make you uncomfortable? You Should Ask Yourself Why. (external link)
Best News Coverage
Gold
Patty Winsa, alum May Warren, Kenyon Wallace, alum Ed Tubb, Cameron Tulk, Nathan Pilla, Andres Plana (Toronto Star)
COVID-19 risk and you (external link)
Honourable mention
Jesse Brown, Jaren Kerr, Shannon Kari, Jonathan Goldsbie, Andréa Schmidt, alum Kasia Mychajlowycz, John-Allan Namu (Canadaland)
Tom Cardoso, alum Dawn Calleja, Ming Wong, Galit Rodan, Evan Annett, Randy Velocci, Murat Yükselir, Christopher Manza (The Globe and Mail)
Bias Behind Bars (external link)
Innovation in Digital Storytelling
Gold
Stephanie Nolen, alum Laura Blenkinsop, Jeremy Agius, Timothy Moore (The Globe and Mail)
International Contributor: Félix Márquez
Honourable mention
Jonathan Ore, Kevin Ball, alum Lakshine Sathiyanathan, Althea Manasan, Geoff Isaac (The Doc Project, CBC Radio)
Paddle of the Century (external link)
Best Feature Article (Short)
Silver
Kat Eschner (The Local)
Tuesday in Allan Gardens, Where the Police Guard the Benches (external link)
Honourable mention
Fatima Syed (The Philanthropist Journal)
StatsCan Releases Survey to Assess Diversity on Nonprofit Boards (external link)
Best Feature Article (Long)
Honourable mention
Alum Pacinthe Mattar (The Walrus)
Contributors: Nicole Schmidt, fact-checker; Samia Madwar, handling editor
Objectivity Is a Privilege Afforded to White Journalists (external link)
Best Personal Essay
Silver
Alum Wency Leung (The Globe and Mail)
Contributors: Carol Toller, alum Mark Medley, Adam Cruft, Fred Lum, Bryan Gee, Evan Annett
I donated my kidney to help a stranger. But what about the person I couldn’t help? (external link)
Honourable mention
Alum Emily Urquhart (The Walrus)
Contributor: Nikky Manfredi, fact-checker
Handling Editor: alum Daniel Viola
Hate Social Media but Love Nature? There’s an App for That (external link)
Best Digital Design
Gold
Stephanie Nolen, alum Laura Blenkinsop, Jeremy Agius, Timothy Moore (The Globe and Mail)
International Contributor: Félix Márquez
Best Arts and Culture Storytelling
Honourable mention
CBC Music
Jesse Kinos-Goodin, producer; Ossie Michelin, Rhiannon Johnson, Andrea Warner, Holly Gordon, alum Melody Lau, Jesse Kinos-Goodin, writers; Mer Young, David J. Cutler, Mishiikenh Kwe, Samantha Leigh Smith, Ben Shannon, art; Geoff Isaac, Ben Shannon, website; Vivian Tabar, video (CBC Music)
60 Years of Indigenous Music Game Changers (external link)
Alum and instructor Carly Lewis (The Walrus)
Contributors: Cienna Smith, illustrator; Sydney Hamilton, fact-checker; alum Daniel Viola, handling editor
The Fault, Dear Reader, Is Not in Our Stars (external link)
Best Online Video: Short
Honourable mention
Amara McLaughlin, Roxanna Woloshyn, Anne MacRae, Scott Galley, alum Tashauna Reid (CBC News)
Are you making these face mask mistakes? (external link)
Best Podcast: Arts & Culture
Gold
Alum Kasia Mychajlowycz, host/reporter/producer; Jesse Brown, producer/co-writer; Jonathan Goldsbie, research; Nathan Burley, music; Chandra Bulucon, sound design/mixing (Canadaland)
Honourable mention
Alum Erica Lenti, Chelle Turingan, co-hosts; Chelle Turingan, producer/audio editor; Rachel Giese, executive producer; KidKulit, music (Xtra Magazine)
Off The Chart: Xtra’s L Word podcast (external link)
Best Podcast: News & Politics
Silver
Alum Michelle Shephard, host/writer; Chris Oke & Lisa Ellenwood, writers/producers; Cesil Fernandes, sound design; Sarah Melton, associate producer; Emilie Quesnel, digital producer; Evan Aagaard, video producer; Ben Shannon, art director (CBC Podcasts)
Honourable mention
Jesse Brown, host; alum Kasia Mychajlowycz, senior producer; Roslyn Kufuor, senior producer; Andréa Schmidt, managing editor; Kevin Sexton, managing editor; Tiffany Lam, Karl Dockstader, Sean Vanderklis, and Justin Ling, contributing reporters (Canadaland)
Geoff Turner, Jessica Linzey, Francis Plourde, creators; Geoff Turner, showrunner; alum Arif Noorani, executive producer; Jessica Linzey, Francis Plourde, associate producers; Geoff Turner, Jessica Linzey, Francis Plourde, writers; Emilie Quesnel, digital producer (CBC Podcasts)
Recall: How to Start a Revolution (external link)
Lisa Bryn Rundle, host; Lisa Bryn Rundle & alum Ilina Ghosh, script writers; alum Arif Noorani, executive producer; Tanya Springer, producer; Christopher Oke, editor; Olivia Pasquarelli, scoring and music supervision; Evan Kelly, sound engineer; Emilie Quesnel, digital producer (CBC Podcasts)
Alum Jordan-Heath Rawlings, Claire Brassard, alum Stefanie Phillips, Ryan Clarke (The Big Story)
Best Editorial Newsletter
Honourable mention
Alum Sierra Bein (The Globe and Mail)
Globe Climate Newsletter (external link)
Samantha McCabe, Alex Nguyen, alum Sierra Bein (The Supplement)
The Supplement Newsletter (external link)
Best Virtual Event
Silver
Alum Lara Chatterjee, Angela Naus, Meg Banks, Steve Pennie, Cheryl Brown, Natalie Crowell, Joel Perron (CBC: The National)
Confronting COVID: The National Virtual Town Hall (external link)
Honourable mention
Nelda Rodger, alum Elizabeth Pagliacolo, Vicky Lee, Anna Lin, Kari Silver, Evan Pavka, Mahasti Eslahjou, Wyatt Clough, Paddy Harrington, Tristan Marantos, Jessica Allen, Francesco Sgaramella (Azure Magazine)
AZ Awards Gala 2020 (external link)
Althia Raj, host/producer; alum Amanda De Souza, producer; Stephane Sannuto, director; Allia McLeod, supervising producer; Luisa Cruz, floor director; Sasha Nagy, executive producer; Jessica Zimmerman, post-production supervisor (HuffingPost Canada)
Ask & Answer: Government Pandemic Support (external link)
2021 National Magazine Awards (external link)
Best Emerging Writer
Gold
Alum Sherina Harris (The Walrus)
The Butterfly Effect
Long-Form Feature Writing
Gold
Alum Katherine Laidlaw (Chatelaine)
Contributors: Aimee Nishitoba, Samantha De Kruyff, Flannery Dean
Handling Editor: Denise Balkissoon
(PDF file) The Long Shadow of Elizabeth Wettlaufer (external link)
Silver
Alum Susan Nerberg (Broadview)
Contributor: alum Elena Gritzan, fact-checker
Handling Editor: Caley Moore
(PDF file) Meltdown (external link)
Honourable mention
Alanna Mitchell (Canadian Geographic)
Handling Editor: Abi Hayward
(PDF file) Punctuation’s Mark (external link)
Essays
Gold
Alum Pacinthe Mattar (The Walrus)
Contributors: Nicole Schmidt, fact-checker
Handling Editor: Samia Madwar
(PDF file) Canadian Media’s Racism Problem (external link)
Honourable mention
Alum Kathleen Newman-Bremang (Refinery29)
Handling Editor: alum Carley Fortune
(PDF file) For Black Women In Media, A “Dream Job” Is A Myth (external link)
Alum and instructor Carly Lewis
Contributor: Sydney Hamilton, fact-checker
Handling Editor: alum Daniel Viola
(PDF file) The Fault, Dear Reader, Is Not in Our Stars (external link)
Profiles
Silver
Alum Shannon Proudfoot, Nadine Yousif (MacLean's)
(PDF file) The Beloved Ones (external link)
Feature Writing
Honourable mention
Alum Sahar Fatima
Handling Editor: Ariel Brewster
(PDF file) Birth Rights (external link)
Katherine Laidlaw (Toronto Life)
Handling Editor: Emily Landau
(PDF file) A Family Massacre (external link)
Investigative Journalism
Gold
Katherine Laidlaw (Toronto Life)
Handling Editor: Malcolm Johnston
(PDF file) Heartbreaker (external link)
Honourable mention
Katherine Laidlaw (Toronto Life)
Handling Editor: Emily Landau
(PDF file) A Family Massacre (external link)
Portrait Photography
Honourable mention
Alum Sarah Boesveld, Rodrigo Moreno
Handling Editor Nicholas Hune-Brown
(PDF file) The Picture Man (external link)
Long-Form Feature Writing: 6000+
Honourable mention
Katherine Laidlaw (Toronto Life)
Handling Editor: Malcolm Johnston
(PDF file) Heartbreaker (external link)
Service Journalism
Honourable mention
Alum Ishani Nath (Chatelaine)
Handling Editor: alum Maureen Halushak
(PDF file) How to Green Your #2 Routine (external link)
2020 Canada Best in Business Awards (external link)
Outstanding Achievement Award
Alum Michael Babad
Audio or Visual Storytelling
Finalist
Rob Carrick, Roma Luciw, Kiran Rana, Hannah Sung, alum Amanda Cupido and TK Matunda (The Globe and Mail),
Beat reporting
Finalist
Alum Josh O’Kane (The Globe and Mail), small business
Commentary
Finalist
Alum David Skok (The Logic)
Editorial newsletter
Finalist
Alum David George-Cosh and Shane McNeil (BNN Bloomberg)
Cannabis Canada Weekly (external link)
Investigative
Finalist
Alum James McLeod (Financial Post)
Double-double tracking: How Tim Hortons knows where you sleep, work and vacation (external link)
Package
Finalist
Tara Deschamps (Canadian Press), diversity series
Personal finance and investing
Finalist
Alum Victor Ferreira (Financial Post)
Profile
Finalist
Alum Alanna Mitchell (Report on Business magazine)
Women Lead Here: Eira Thomas
Scoop
Finalist
David George-Cosh (BNN Bloomberg)
Aphria, Tilray said to be in advanced merger talks
A big round of applause for all of the RSJ students, faculty and alumni for these outstanding achievements!