If you’ll allow us a moment to brag, Atlantic Canadian reporters from across our SaltWire Network of local newspapers and sites walked away with a number of accolades during the Better Newspapers Awards, announced June 3 in Halifax.
Three journalists with the Nova Scotia weeklies – the Tri-County Vanguard, the Valley Journal-Advertiser and the Annapolis Valley Register - along with on from Newfoundland and Labrador’s The Packet in Clarenville, were among journalists honored by Newspaper Atlantic for their work this past year.
While you trust us to carry your own stories, many times – because we live and work in the communities we serve – we’re sharing important moments of our own lives as well.
Tina Comeau, editor of the Tri-County Vanguard in Shelburne, Digby and Yarmouth counties, N.S., was the recipient of the outstanding resources story for lobster season opener: When mom is watching from the wharf: a first-person account of looking on as her son heads to sea as a lobster fisherman for the first time.
Comeau was also recognized with a Silver Quill Award to mark 25 years in journalism. She was a standing finalist in three other categories as well, including outstanding feature story, outstanding news story and outstanding local columnist.
The Valley Journal-Advertiser’s Wendy Elliott was the recipient of the best feature photo award for capturing the announcement of Queen Annapolisa 84th, an image that showed the surprise and joy on the faces of competition participants just as the winner was announced at last year’s Apple Blossom Festival coronation.
Jennifer Vardy Little, managing editor of the Nova Scotia Weekly group, was recognized with the best sports photo award for capturing a moment of intense competition between the Central Kings Gators and the Northeast Kings Titans during football action last fall.
Clarenville, N.L., journalist Jonathan Parsons earned two awards, one for his investigative piece on health care issues and a second for outstanding sports story on a young runner.
“Great stories, great photos, great work,” said Saltwire Network’s regional editor for N.S., Dave Glenen.
“Our journalists are doing this on a daily basis and it’s great to get a nod from our peers for our efforts. Sometimes it seems people look elsewhere to find their definition of quality and dedication. In journalism, they just need to look to their community newspapers. It’s all there in the pages of the newspaper and on the websites.”
Glenen, a long-time member of the New Glasgow, N.S., News team, also received a Silver Quill Award along with Comeau, Darrell Cole - managing editor of The Amherst News in N.S. - and Margaret Wallace, circulation manager for the Annapolis Valley and South Shore papers in N.S.
The Packet, in Clarenville, N.L, was also named the winner for General Excellence for newspapers with a circulation less than 3,000.
While the stories are really yours, we’ll gladly accept the pride that comes with our peers holding them up high.
