The Canadian Journalism Foundation announces Halifax's The Coast as winner of the Excellence in Journalism Award in small media category

TORONTO, April 9, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is pleased to announce The Coast in Halifax, as the Excellence in Journalism Award winner in the small media category.

The award recognizes Canadian news organizations that embody exemplary journalism with a resulting impact on the community they serve. The small media category recognizes news organizations with fewer than 50 full-time employees.

The Coast's submission included stories about two women who were relentlessly harassed and the failure of the justice system, even after the tragedy of the Rehtaeh Parsons case (the Halifax high school student who was cyberbullied to suicide in 2013 after a photograph of her rape was shared among her classmates), which thrust Nova Scotia into a central role in the efforts to legislate against a new form of sex crime.

Read the winning submission:
"The always-on stalker"
"Police, province respond to Nicole and Kim"
"Halifax police conclude bungled stalker case review"

"The topic of cyberbullying could not be more topical, but it is also one rife with inaccuracies and misinformation," says Antonia Maioni, a professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University's Institute for Health and Social Policy and a member of the jury. "The Coast uses its deep local connections in Nova Scotia to bring accuracy and thoroughness to its research, and in so doing reveal the underreported stories of stalker victims -- bringing their voices out clearly and credibly in a very noisy and messy news environment."

The Excellence in Journalism Award, now in its 19^th year, was established by Dr. F.L.R. (Eric) Jackman, chairman of the Jackman Foundation and founder of The Canadian Journalism Foundation.

The members of the jury include:
Chair - Christopher Waddell, Associate Professor, School or Journalism and Communication, Carleton University
Mary De Paoli, Executive Vice-President, Public & Corporate Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life Financial
Hershell Ezrin, Managing Director, Ezrin Communications
Dr. F.L.R. Jackman, PhD, Chairman, Jackman Foundation
Antonia Maioni, PhD, Professor, Department of Political Science, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University
Shauna Snow-Capparelli, Associate Professor and Chair, Bachelor of Communication-Journalism, Mount Royal University

Twitter: #CJFawards

About The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement. Our signature events include an annual awards program featuring a must-attend industry gala where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top news people. Through J-Talks, our popular speakers' series, we facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also supports journalism websites J-Source.ca (English) and ProjetJ.ca (French) and fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.

SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation

Related Links

http://www.cjf-fjc.ca