Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 15/02) - Northern newspapers struck gold in the latest round of national community newspaper awards.

News/North, Kivalliq News, Slave River Journal and Nunatsiaq News placed first in nine categories in their classes at the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's annual convention in Halifax earlier this month.

Five of the first place plaques went to News/North.

A story by former News/North news editor Jack Danylchuk, headlined, "Job machine or sinkhole," which won first place in the Ontario Best Business Writing competition last spring, went on to win first place and $500 in Halifax.

An investigative report into the rocky financial history of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, national judges liked the hard-hitting approach.

"Jack Danylchuk asks tough questions and writes with authority," they said. "Danylchuk gives News/North readers an eye-opening and comprehensive analysis of where millions of taxpayers' money poured into the corporation went."

Former entertainment and arts editor Michele LeTourneau placed first in Best Coverage of the Arts and second in Best Historical Story, beaten out by Jane George of Nunatsiaq News.

The judges said LeTourneau "understands the arts and what motivates people to pursue all its forms and then helps readers reach the same level of comprehension. Her writing is strong, confident and well crafted; her stories are entertaining and instructive. She makes people think about why they are applauding an artist's work."

News/North took Best Feature Photo with former Iqaluit bureau reporter Kirsten Murphy's picture of Annie Tiglik and Mary Uniuqsaraq sharing a quiet moment during an elders gathering in Iqaluit last April.

Grand illusions

Photo Editor Merle Robillard won again in Best Photo Illustration, cashing in on a $300 prize. Designed for National Addictions Awareness Week, Robillard's computer generated illusion created "a straightforward concept to quickly communicate the theme of the story with great impact." Also, Opportunities North, a 106-page, three-section in-depth survey of business and industry in the NWT and Nunavut was honoured.

"Beautiful cover photography in every section, great flow to the layout, editorial coverage that missed nothing and ads with outstanding design all combined to make this a really, really great edition," said the judges.

"We got a great feel for life in the North." Yellowknifer won first in the Best House Ad. The full page headline shouted THE HELL YOU SAY, below which was a 29-year-old letter from the government stating the newspaper was a lousy business proposition and not worthy of a small business loan.

"The ad laughed in the face of this obstacle by promoting their 29th anniversary," said the judge. "Very different, very clever."

Fort Smith's Slave River Journal got a big 'WOW' and first place from the judges for Best Ad Design. It was a two-page centerspread ad for Smith's annual Friendship Festival.

"From the seamless melding of photo, colour and artwork to the creative and whimsical use of typography, the overall general impact was WOW!." The SRJ also took second place for Best Front Page.

Nunatsiaq News also won first place in Best National Editorial. Headlined If Canada can brag, Canada can pay, editor Jim Bell argued that Canada should not use Nunavut as an example 'of the generosity and superiority of Canadian ways,' the judges said, adding Bell was 'not afraid to speak his mind or stir up controversy.'

Kivalliq News won third place in Best Feature Series. Editor Darrell Greer explored the underlying issues of a phenomena found in most Canadian communities - Bingo! "His four part series on the benefits and problems associated with bingo shed light on the issue and allowed readers to weigh in on this important subject."