Yukon News leads the way with eight Ma Murray nominations (UPDATED)

UPDATED: The original news release left out the nominees for best editorial and best online innovation. This post has been updated with those nominees. (You’d think someone has it in for Mel Rothenburger and the Kamloops Daily News, who are nominated in both categories). The headline is also now grammatically correct.

Nominations for the 2011 Ma Murray BCYCNA awards have been released.

First the writing:

In the writing categories, the Vancouver Courier and Yukon News lead the way, with five nominations each. Three of those Yukon News articles deal with environmental issues.

Arts & Culture Writing Award
·   Nelson Star – Bob Hall, Pantomime Series
·   Vancouver Courier – Cheryl Rossi, Note Worthy
·   Williams Lake Tribune – Sage Birchwater, Urban Ink/Twin Fish Wind Up First Youth Training Session

Business Writing Award
·   Kelowna Capital News – Judie Steeves, Crushed Gold; Okanagan Wine Industry has Come a Long Way
·   Vancouver Courier – Cheryl Rossi, Tapping Taste
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Vivian Belik, Messy Miner Wants to Keep Digging

Cartoonist Award
·   Powell River Peak – ,VanderPhoenix Rising
·   Victoria News – Ole Heggen, Our Customers Don’t Feel Safe in Downtown Victoria …
·   Whistler Question – Ingrid Rice, Red Ink

Columnist Award
·   Delta Optimist – Ted Murphy, Murphy’s Law
·   Kamloops This Week – Dale Bass, Larose’s Legacy Will Live on in Lives of those he Helped
·   Langley Advance – Matthew Claxton, Please don’t say ‘off the record’ (and) Spills are the price of cheap oil

Editorial Award

·   Chilliwack Times – Tyler Olsen, Weeding Out the Bad Guys
·   Kamloops Daily News – Mel Rothenburger, Let’s Talk Facts on Rail-Tie Plant
·   Prince George Citizen – Frank Peebles, Take a Look in the Mirror

Environmental Initiative Award
·   Sechelt / Gibsons Coast Reporter – Brent Richter, Recycle, Redux, Report: Part 1
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Vivian Belik, Greenery Rises from the Rot
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Genesee Keevil, Sustainable Farming’s Local Shepherd

Environmental Writing Award
·   Surrey, North Delta Leader – Jeff Nagel, Trash Talk – A Black Press Special Series
·   Vancouver Courier – Sandra Thomas, Back to Nature
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – John Thompson, Group Pushes for ATV Restrictions

Feature Article Award
·   Burnaby News Leader – Mario Bartel, An Afghan Basketball Journey
·   North Shore Outlook – Kelly McManus, Chat Roulette
·   Vancouver Courier – Naoibh O’Connor, Private Lessons

Feature Series Award
·   Chilliwack Progress – Eric Welsh, Painstaking Path to Potential Cure
·   Victoria News – Lisa Weighton, Rebirth Through Reburial
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Genesee Keevil, For Want of a Shelter, Her Dogs Were Lost

Investigative Journalism Award
·   Chilliwack Times – Tyler Olsen, Growing Concern
·   Kamloops Daily News – Cam Fortems, The Mike Rink Story
·   Langley Times – Monique Tamminga, Pet Shop Dogged by Virus/ No Limits on City Dog Sales/ City Looks to Ban Pet Sales

Ma Murray Community Service Award
·   Langley Advance – Ryan McAdams, 2010 BC Summer Games
·   Surrey, North Delta Leader – Boaz Joseph and team, Faces of the Surrey Food Bank – Special Series
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Richard Mostyn, Message in a Bottle

Neville Shanks Memorial Award for Historical Writing
·   Langley Times – Warren Sommer, Lets We Forget: Gathering at Menin Gate
·   Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News – Robert Mangelsdorf, At the Heart of Whonnock
·   Nanaimo Daily News – Dustin Walker, The Chinatown Fire

Outdoor Recreation Writing Award
·   Bowen Island Undercurrent – Martha Perkins, National Park Debate Unleashed; Off – Leash Areas Undercurrent
·   Kamloops Daily News – Mike Youds, Vanishing Landscape
·   Vancouver Courier – Mike Howell, Project Renewal

Eric Dunning Integrity Award — TBA

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The Yukon News have four more photography nominations, including three for Mike Thomas—who is also nominated for online innovation.

Photo Essay Award
·   Chilliwack Progress – Jenna Hauck, Cars with Class
·   Kelowna Capital News – Sean Connor, Gangland Crackdown
·   Salt Spring Island, Gulf Islands Driftwood – Susan Lundy & team, A Day in the Life of Salt Spring Island

Portrait/Personality Photo Award
·   Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News – James Mclennan, Hart Attacks Record Books
·   North Shore Outlook – Daniel Pi, Fight Like a Girl
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Mike Thomas, Forced Move

Feature Photo Award, B&W: Over 25,000
·   Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News – Colleen Flanagan, Banjo Barber
·   Vancouver Courier – Dan Toulgoet, On Your Mark, Get Set … Go
·   Victoria News – Sharon Tiffin, Sounds of Christmas

Feature Photo Award, B&W: Under 25,000
·   Powell River Peak – Kyle Wells, Let the Sun Shine
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Mike Thomas, Laughing Fox
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Ian Stewart, Painterly Sky

Feature Photo Award: Colour: Over 25,000
·   Coquitlam Now – Paul vanPeenen, Open House
·   Duncan, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial – Andrew Leong, Heads will Roll
·   Penticton Western News – Mark D. Brett, Tearful Farewell

Feature Photo Award: Colour: Under 25,000
·   Powell River Peak – Kyle Wells, Outta Sight
·   Sechelt / Gibsons Coast Reporter – Brent Richter, Ice Gate Opening
·   Sicamous, Eagle Valley News – Lachlan Labere, Paying respect

Sports Photo Award: Over 25,000
·   Abbotsford Times – Jean Konda-Witte, Lions Roar on Rugby Pitch
·   Kamloops Daily News – Murray Mitchell, MIGHTY MANFORD
·   Surrey, North Delta, White Rock Now – Sharon Doucette, Peace Arch United Blows PoCo Away

Sports Photo Award: Under 25,000
·   Oak Bay News – Sharon Tiffin, Ready to Rumble
·   Salmon Arm Observer – James Murray, Close Encounter of the Worst Kind
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Mike Thomas, Triathlon Swimmer

Sports Writing Award
·   Abbotsford News – Dan Kinvig, Gray gets the Point
·   Burnaby Now – Andrew Fleming, Mario’s Big Night Out
·   White Rock, Peace Arch News – Nick Greenizan, Conquering Uphill Battle

Spot News Photo Award: Over 25,000
·   Abbotsford News – John Van Putten, Takedown
·   Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News – Colleen Flanagan, Keeping an Appointment
·   North & West Vancouver, North Shore News – Terry Peters, Tragic Collision

Spot News Photo Award: Under 25,000
·   Alberni Valley News – Wawmeesh G. Hamilton, Reassuring Face
·   Salmon Arm Observer – James Murray, RCMP Nab Armed Robbery Suspect
·   Sooke News Mirror – Jim Sinclair, Grey Whale a Dead Issue

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For some background on how the following newspapers have fared in the past decade, check out the analyses I did in February here and here. I will just point out that despite having a whopping eight writing and photography award nominations, the Yukon News doesn’t get an excellence nod, which kinda seems strange.

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category A
·   Barriere/Clearwater North Thompson Star/Journal
·   Bowen Island Undercurrent
·   Clearwater, North Thompson Times

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category B
·   Agassiz-Harrison Observer
·   Hope Standard
·   Salmon Arm Observer

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category C
·   Salt Spring Island, Gulf Islands Driftwood
·   Squamish Chief
·   Whistler Question

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category D
·   Oak Bay News
·   Sechelt / Gibsons Coast Reporter
·   Sidney, Peninsula News Review

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category E
·   Duncan, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial
·   Duncan Cowichan Valley Citizen
·   Victoria News

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category F
·   Chilliwack Progess
·   Langley Times
·   White Rock, Peace Arch News

Newspaper Excellence Award: Category G
·   Kelowna Capital News
·   Nanaimo News Bulletin
·   Surrey, North Delta Leader

Port Metro Vancouver Website & Online Innovation Award
·   Abbotsford News – Andrew Holota, abbynews.com ~ The Abbotsford News
·   Kamloops Daily News – Mel Rothenburger, The Kamloops Project
·   Whitehorse, Yukon News – Mike Thomas, Yukon News

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We’re making inroads into our census of B.C. community newspapers, but there are still a lot of blanks in the Journo-lust Spreadsheet. How many journalists work at your paper? How often do you come out? Who’s your publisher? Participation is free! The benefits unlimited! The exclamation points boundless!