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Full list of 2012 Ma Murray Award winners
A week late — shut up! — here are your individual and special category 2012 Ma Murray Award winners (Newspaper excellence award winners were posted earlier. Pay attention). If your name is (BCYCNA general manager) George Affleck, STOP! I know you read this blog George. When you get around to publishing the names of the award winners next year, please, please, please do not post them as a PDF. Don’t to it! No! Bad general manager! That is all.
Without ado….
Eric Dunning Integrity Award Gold – Merv Unger
Writing Awards
Feature Series Award
Gold – Vancouver Courier, Mike Howell
Silver – Chilliwack Progress, Jenna Hauck & Eric Welsh
Bronze – Nanaimo Daily News, Dustin Walker
John Collison Memorial Award for Investigative
Journalism
Gold – Surrey/North Delta Leader, Jeff Nagel
Silver – Revelstoke Times Review, Aaron Orlando
Bronze – Keremeos, The Review, Steve Arstad
Feature Article Award
Gold – Kamloops Daily News, Catherine Litt
Silver – Monday Magazine, Danielle Pope
Bronze – Chilliwack Times, Tyler Olsen
Arts & Culture Writing Award
Gold – Richmond News, Eve Edmonds, Alan Campbell, Michelle Hopkins and Chung Chow
Silver – Westender, Jessica Barrett
Bronze – Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Ashley Degraaf
Neville Shanks Memorial Award for Historical Writing
Gold – Revelstoke Times Review, Aaron Orlando
Silver – Monday Magazine, Danielle Pope
Bronze – North Shore News, James Weldon
Sports Writing Award
Gold – Vancouver Courier, Bob Mackin
Silver – Abbotsford News, Dan Kinvig
Bronze – Langley Times, Gary Ahuja
Outdoor Recreation Writing Award
Gold – North Shore News, Manisha Krishnan
Silver – North Shore Outlook, Maria Spitale-Leisk
Bronze – Campbell River Mirror, Alistair Taylor
Environmental Initiative Award
Gold – Vancouver Courier, Naoibh O’Connor
Silver – Cowichan News Leader
Pictorial, Peter W. Rusland
Bronze – Coquitlam Now, Jennifer McFee
Environmental Writing Award
Gold – North Shore News, James Weldon
Silver – North Shore Outlook, Sean Kolenko
Bronze – Monday Magazine, Mary Ellen Green
Columnist Award
Gold – Monday Magazine, Brian Kieran
Silver – Vancouver Courier, Mark Hasiuk
Bronze – Abbotsford News, Andrew Holota
Editorial Award
Gold – Monday Magazine, Grant McKenzie & Timothy Collins
Silver – Vancouver Courier, Barry Link
Bronze – Nanaimo Daily News, Paul Walton & Dustin Walker
Photography awards
Sports Photo Award, Over 25,000
Gold – North Shore News, Cindy Goodman
Silver – North Shore News, Mike Wakefield
Bronze – Penticton Western News, Mark D. Brett
Sports Photo Award, Under 25,000
Gold – Gulf Islands Driftwood, John Cameron
Silver – Quesnel Cariboo Observer, Percy N. Hébert
Bronze – Coast Reporter, Justin Samson
Spot News Photo Award, Over 25,000
Gold – Vancouver Courier, Dan Toulgoet
Silver – Campbell River Courier-Islander, Dan MacLennan
Bronze – Cowichan Valley Citizen, Kevin Rothbauer
Spot News Photo Award, Under 25,000
Gold – Yukon News, Mike Thomas
Silver – Quesnel Cariboo Observer, Percy N. Hébert
Bronze – Nelson Star, Megan Cole
Feature Photo Award, Black & White, Over 25,000
Gold – Victoria News, Sharon Tiffin
Silver – Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Andrew Leong
Bronze – Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News, Colleen Flanagan
Feature Photo Award, Black & White, Under 25,000
Gold – Yukon News, Justin Kennedy
Silver – Yukon News, Mike Thomas
Bronze – The Interior News, Jon Muldoon
Feature Photo Award, Colour, Over 25,000
Gold – Victoria News, Don Denton
Silver – Campbell River Mirror, Paul Rudan
Bronze – Richmond News, Chung Chow
Feature Photo Award, Colour, Under 25,000
Gold – Salmon Arm Observer, James Murray
Silver – Eagle Valley News, Lachlan Labere
Bronze – Shuswap Market News, James Murray
Photo Essay Award
Gold – Gulf Islands Driftwood, Susan Lundy & Team
Silver – Powell River Peak, Alicia Baas
Bronze – Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Andrew Leong
Portrait/Personality Photo Award
Gold – Yukon News, Mike Thomas
Silver – Chilliwack Progress, Jenna Hauck
Bronze – Yukon News, Ian Stewart
Special awards
Ma Murray Community Service Award
Gold – North Shore Outlook, Greg Laviolette and staff
Silver – Richmond Review, Mary Kemmis
Bronze – Richmond News, Michelle Hopkins, Eve Edmonds & Chung Chow
Special Publications Award, Over 25,000
Gold – Surrey/North Delta Leader, Paula Carlson & Team
Silver – North Shore News, Vicki Magnison & Deana Lancaster
Bronze – Kamloops Daily News, Keshav Sharma & Team
Special Publications Award, Under 25,000
Gold – Coast Reporter, Joe James
Silver – Gulf Islands Driftwood, Lorraine Sullivan & Team
Bronze – Grand Forks Gazette, Chris Hammett & Team
Special Section Award, Over 25,000
Gold – The Now, serving Surrey, North Delta, White Rock, Marlyn Graziano, Beau Simpson, Kim Rose & Margot Gauley
Silver – Abbotsford News, Dan Kinvig, Cristine MacDonald & Anne Williams
Bronze – Cowichan Valley Citizen, Andrea Rondeau, Lexi Bainas, Sarah Simpson & Kevin Rothbauer
Special Section Award, Under 25,000
Gold – Whistler Question, Eric MacKenzie & John Magill
Silver – Coast Reporter, Ashley Doyle
Bronze – Oak Bay News, Oliver Sommer
Web Online Innovation Award
Gold – Kamloops Daily News, Mark Rogers
Silver – Abbotsford News, Don Barbeau & Cristine MacDonald
Bronze – Yukon News, Mike Thomas
Gulf Islands Driftwood editor Gail Sjuberg Tebows for Thompson
Before Saturday’s Ma Murraw Awards I put out a challenge to the night’s award-winners: the first get down like overrated NFL quarterback Tim Tebow on stage or thank Baby Jesus ala imaginary NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby would win a Hunter S. Thompson book.
But according to our not-particularly-reliable-nor-sober Special Correspondent, after more than two dozen speeches (most lasting no more than 10 seconds) and a few not-so-subtle reminders by hosts Jill Krop and Dan Quinn, it was an editor who didn’t even win an award who finally got religion (and the book).
Gulf Islands Driftwood photographer John Cameron wasn’t at the River Rock theatre to accept his sports photo award but his editor, Gail Sjuberg, was.
After a nice speech, Gail (or someone who our correspondent believed to be Gail; she later confirmed it was her) performed what might be best described as a half-Tebow. Our judge reports with sorrow that her knee didn’t quite touch the ground. But he said she deserves the book anyway.
That said, our correspondent has little reason to be throwing stones: not only was he too drunk to even confirm that it was Gail on stage, but I also suspect that alcohol may be to blame for his report that there was an above-average number of identical twins at the after party.
I’ll have more on the comedy, awards and speeches later this week. And Gail will be getting her book sometime soon-ish.
Tebow for (Hunter S.) Thompson: Book up for grabs in first B.C. Reporter Reporter contest
The BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards are Saturday and blah, blah, blah. You know what’s happening. So let’s spice things up.
Aside from some suspect categories—holiday edition, anyone?—The BCYCNA does the Ma Murrays up right. It’s always a fun evening, the trophies are beautiful, and the winners get the chance to make speeches. It’s like a real awards show, in other words.
But, maybe because print journalists are terrified of microphones, the speeches can get a tad predictable. This year, hopefully, things will be different because of …. drumroll please………. The First Annual Ma Murray Prize Giveaway!
How it works
The prize: a slightly used version of Hunter S. Thompson’s awesome Hell’s Angels, in which the legendary journo infiltrates the biker gang and gets nearly killed as a reward for his journalism initiative. I think it’s a fucking amazing prize.
The judge: The blog will be sending a mystery special correspondent to observe the awards presentation.
How to win:
There are two paths to victory:
1) after accepting your Ma Murray Award, you can Tebow.
2) during your awards speech, you can thank Baby Jesus, ala Ricky Bobby.
The first award winner to either Tebow or thank Baby Jesus ON STAGE gets the book. The second person to do so gets nothing, so pay attention people.
The book will be mailed to the winner’s newsroom.
[UPDATE: Anybody who gets a photo of said Tebowing please, please, please email it to me.]
If you’re not up for an award, but work with somebody who is, let them know about the contest.
Good luck everybody.
Your 2012 Ma Murray nominees
The finalists for the BCYCNA’s 2012 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards were announced Tuesday. I’ve posted the complete list of nominees below. The Vancouver Courier leads the way with seven finalists. Monday Magazine has six [or seven, if you count Special Publications Award, about which I have mixed feelings. See the comments for more.] The North Shore News and Coast Reporter are close behind with five finalists each. [UPDATE, if there are others I have missed with at least five nominees, leave a comment]
I’ve also tallied the results for the newspaper companies.
Overall Excellence
Black Press – 14 (2011 – 17)
Glacier – 6 (2011 incl. Postmedia – 4)
Writing
Black Press – 20 (2011 – 16)
Glacier – 12 (2011 incl. Postmedia – 15)
Glacier dailies – 3 (2011 incl. Postmedia – 5)
Photos
Black Press – 14 (2011 – 17)
Glacier – 8 (2011 inc. Postmedia – 9)
Yukon News – 5 (2011 – 4)
Anyways, Here are the full results (I’ve omitted advertising and special publications awards, find them here):
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)
(B)
Thumbs up, thumbs down Ma Murrays
The British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspaper Association handed out the 2011 Ma Murray Awards Saturday night in a glitzy presentation attended by some 350-odd people.
Thumbs up to speeches by Jeff Nagel, who encouraged publishers to start rehiring all those laid-off reporters, and by Dale Bass, whose speech about her award-winning column was the most emotional of the night.
And thumbs up to the opportunity to speechify.
One thumb up, one thumb down to the food, which was just OK.
Thumbs up to presenters Kathryn Gretsinger and Kyle Donaldson, who not only let things tick along at a reasonable pace, but kept the crowd informed of the score of the Canucks playoff hockey game.
Thumbs down to the 10-minute Michael Jackson impersonator routine after dinner. The dance crew did a great job, but it was very, very out of place.
Thumbs up to the massive (and very hefty) trophies for the winners. They make sure you know you won something.
That’s all I’ve got. Which way are your thumbs pointed? Leave a comment.
Award-winning stories for the rest of the month
Remember how I was going to try and post daily links to award-nominated stories from last year?
Yeah, I forgot all about it too.
Thankfully, someone at Black Press did a bunch of the work for me and linked to editions of a bunch of that chain’s award-winning pieces. You can find the whole list here… Actually, because it’s just a list, I think I can just copy and paste it below with few qualms. (A couple stories are missing links; not my fault)
Either way, the stories are quite impressive. In fact, they make you think that many of those stories could be collated into a half-decent bi-annual magazine, or something similar. Great idea? Lousy idea? Leave a comment.
BC Arts Council Arts & Culture Writing Award
Nelson Star ‐ Bob Hall, Pantomime Series
Williams Lake Tribune – Sage Birchwater, Urban Ink/Twin Fish Wind Up First Youth Training Session
B.C. Automobile Association Business Writing Award
Kelowna Capital News – Judie Steeves, Crushed Gold; Okanagan Wine Industry has Come a Long Way
Thompson River University School of Journalism Environmental Writing Award
Surrey, North Delta Leader – Jeff Nagel, Trash Talk
Provence Restaurants Feature Article Award
Burnaby News Leader ‐ Mario Bartel, An Afghan Basketball Journey
North Shore Outlook ‐ Kelly McManus, Chat Roulette
Feature Series Award
Chilliwack Progress – Eric Welsh, Painstaking Path to Potential Cure
Victoria News ‐ Lisa Weighton, Rebirth Through Reburial
Glacier Media Investigative Journalism Award
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
Outdoor Recreation Writing Award
Bowen Island Undercurrent – Martha Perkins, National Park Debate Unleashed; Off‐ Leash Areas
Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Sports Writing Award
