The Globe and Mail was the big winner at the 68th National Newspaper Awards, taking top prize in 11 of 21 categories, while foreign correspondent Mark MacKinnon was named Journalist of the Year.
The Globe's 11 wins were by far the most for any organization – no other outlet had more than two – and recognized the newspaper's work on issues such as solitary confinement, the opioid crisis, Vancouver real estate, cash-for-access fundraisers and military suicides.
"The theme of the evening was about giving journalists time so they may achieve memorable journalism," said David Walmsley, The Globe and Mail's editor-in-chief. "At The Globe and Mail, we care deeply about going the extra mile to get the facts and context, and we are delighted the judges rewarded us with so many awards."
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Globe staff or freelancers had wins in the following categories at a gala in Toronto on Friday:
- International: Mr. MacKinnon for his work on Syrian teenagers who sparked the Syrian war, Brexit, the attempted coup in Turkey and global instability. Mr. MacKinnon was also named Journalist of the Year, which is chosen from among the 21 NNA winners by a panel of previous NNA laureates.
- Beat reporting: Patrick White for his coverage of Canadian prisons, including the use of solitary confinement.
- Editorial cartooning: Brian Gable
- Editorials: Tony Keller for his open letter urging Americans not to vote for Donald Trump, as well as a piece telling Canada’s Conservatives to look to the Republican Party to see what they risk becoming.
- Explanatory work: Grant Robertson and Karen Howlett for their work on the opioid crisis.
- Investigations: Kathy Tomlinson for her coverage of questionable practices fuelling British Columbia’s real estate boom.
- Long feature: Christina Frangou on life as a young widow.
- Politics: The Globe and Mail team for its coverage of cash-for-access fundraisers involving Liberal politicians.
- Presentation: Christopher Manza for story design aimed at digital platforms.
- Project of the Year: Globe and Mail team for stories on soldiers and veterans who died by suicide after serving in the Afghanistan mission.
- Sports: Marty Klinkenberg for his profile of Fred Sasakamoose, the first Indigenous player in the National Hockey League.
This marks the third time the National Newspaper Awards have chosen a Journalist of the Year. Joanna Slater, also a Globe foreign correspondent, claimed the honour last year.
In a statement, the judges said Mr. MacKinnon "weaved a narrative that details the interdependence of world events today – in Europe, the United States, Russia, Turkey and the rest of the Muslim world. The result is an incredible piece of writing that combines context with storytelling and dogged reporting."
The National Newspaper Awards in a news release said all category winners receive cheques for $1,000 and a certificate of award. Other finalists receive citations of merit. The Journalist of the Year is awarded $2,500.
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The release said the awards are open to daily newspapers, news agencies and online news sites approved for entry by the NNA Board of Governors. It said 70 finalists were nominated in the 21 categories, selected from 959 entries published in 2016. Of 54 newspapers and online news sites to submit entries, 25 organizations had nominations.
Included in The Globe's 19 nominations were:
- Business (2): Mr. MacKinnon for his work on Bombardier’s murky business practices in Russia; Marina Strauss for her coverage of the rapid change overtaking the retail sector.
- Columns: Doug Saunders for his writing on gun ownership, sex crimes in Sweden and school bullies.
- Editorial cartooning: David Parkins.
- Explanatory work: Ann Hui for her reporting on the treatment of hens and how it affects eggs.
- News photo: Amber Bracken for an image of a man being pepper-sprayed by police during a North Dakota protest.
- Politics: Steven Chase for his reporting on the Canadian government’s $15-billion deal to sell weaponized armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.
- Presentation: The Globe and Mail team for its visual depiction of the fire in Fort McMurray, Alta.
The Toronto Star won the second-most awards Friday, with two. Eight other entrants claimed one award each: the Kingston Whig-Standard, the National Observer, the Winnipeg Free Press, The Canadian Press, La Presse, The Toronto Sun, the Calgary Herald/Calgary Sun and Fort McMurray Today/Edmonton Journal/Edmonton Sun.