Global News is this year’s recipient of the CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism (Large Media) at the annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards.
The network was among the media organizations recognized at an event Thursday night at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, that brought together more than 500 journalists, media executives and business leaders.
Named in honour of CJF founder Dr. Eric Jackman, the award recognizes news organizations that embrace journalistic excellence — originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity — resulting in a positive impact on the communities they serve.
Global News was recognized for The New Reality: The Business of Indigenous Kids in Care, an investigation into the treatment of Indigenous youth in the child-welfare system, that revealed startling allegations that some of the most vulnerable children are being preyed upon by for-profit, group-home companies. This marks the first time Global has been recognized with the award.
In the Small Media category, Toronto-based online magazine The Local captured its first CJF Jackman Award for Divided City, its neighbourhood-level analysis of life expectancy in Toronto that revealed stark disparities, especially between richer and poorer neighbourhoods.
Among the evening’s other honourees:
Canada’s National Observer was recognized with the CJF Award for Climate Solutions Reporting. The $10,000 award, sponsored by Intact Financial Corporation, celebrates a journalist or journalistic team whose work shines a spotlight on the climate crisis and related innovative solutions. Canada’s National Observer won for Big Green Build, reported by Darius Snieckus, a series of deeply researched stories on Canada’s housing construction crisis and the generational opportunity to build greener and better to meet the country’s climate targets.
The Landsberg Award, celebrating exceptional coverage of women’s equality issues, went to Jana Pruden, for In Her Defence: 50th Street, a podcast series produced with Kasia Mychajlowycz for The Globe and Mail, focused on the life and still-unsolved death of Indigenous woman Amber Tuccaro.
Special CJF honorees included veteran investigative journalist Bob McKeown, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his decades-long record of excellence in investigative journalism, reporting from more than 60 countries.
Journalist, author and filmmaker Tanya Talaga received the CJF Tribute in recognition of her commitment to Indigenous storytelling, bringing critical issues in neglected communities to light and changing Canada’s media landscape.
The Toronto Star received a CJF Special Citation for its investigation into the sexual abuse that Andrea Skinner, daughter of Canadian literary giant Alice Munro, suffered at the hands of her stepfather, Munro’s husband. CJF said the citation recognizes the months-long investigation, reported by Deborah Dundas and Betsy Powell, which “demonstrated extraordinary courage and sensitivity, illuminating the darkest shadows of human experience.”
