Yellowknifer gets eight newspaper awards
Finishes second best overall at regionals
Northern News Services
Friday, June 3, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifer had a strong showing at this year's newspaper awards, finishing second best overall at the Alberta contest with three writing awards nationally.
Reporter John McFadden placed third in the Outstanding Reporter Initiative category at this year's Canadian Community Newspaper Awards for his Feb. 13, 2015 piece, "There's a killer out there." He also finished third in two other categories; Outstanding Reporter Initiative and Best Historical Story. - |
The newspaper was presented with five awards at the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association's annual gala last weekend in Edmonton.
Aside from finishing second best overall and first for Best Sports Page for its circulation size, Yellowknifer picked up the overall first place prize for Best Environmental Writing and Best Feature Story.
Best Feature Story went to writer Cody Punter for his Jan. 16, 2015 piece, "Yk's Muslims continue to flourish after theft."
"One year earlier, their imam had stolen $120,000 from the mosque building fund. This feature, in follow-up to that crime, describes a sermon delivered in English, a congregation's struggle to recoup its loss and regain self-confidence - plus thought-provoking observations upon an evolving racial and religious demographic which characterizes Canada today," wrote the judge.
The Best Environmental Writing award was handed to writer James Goldie for his three-part series last October documenting the history of Giant Mine following the dismantling of its C-Shaft headframe ("Headframe comes down").
Yellowknifer ad designer Diana Mathisen was awarded second place for Creative Use of Colour in Advertising for an ad appearing in the May 13, 2015 edition of Yellowknifer, entitled "Barbecue season is here."
"This ad makes me hungry - I love the tie-in with the red flames, the tomatoes and the logo - it's a simple and elegant design," the judge stated.
Yellowknifer reporters also did well on the national stage. The Canadian Community Newspaper Awards were announced in April and included three top-three finishes for reporters Shane Magee and John McFadden.
Magee was awarded second place for Best News Story in its circulation class for the June 19 story, "I found someone." The piece recounted Yellowknifer firefighter efforts to find an apartment occupant trapped by fire and smoke.
"His breath-taking narrative, viewed through the eyes of two firefighters, informed ... by skillfully embedding the details in colourful description," the judge wrote. "Very well written. Captivating pace."
McFadden received two third-place circulation class awards at the nationals, one for Outstanding Reporter Initiative for tracking down the victim of a near-fatal assault that left the man's friend dead.
"Who stakes out the home of a man who is the sole survivor of a deadly attack that killed his best friend? Reporter John McFadden, that's who," the judge states of McFadden's Feb. 13, 2015 story, "There's a killer out there."
The veteran reporter also received third place for Best Historical Story for "Tragic 10th anniversary remembered," published March 18, 2015. The story recalls the tragic deaths of Yellowknife firefighters Lt. Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson during a shed fire at Home Building Centre on Old Airport Road.
"Solid writing and reporting helps readers look back at a tragic event that marked this community but does not shy away from the hard news of the repercussions of officials who failed in their roles," the judge wrote.
