UBC Journalism has secured two prestigious wins at the 2025 Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Canada regional awards, showcasing excellence in both student journalism and faculty research.
The awards were for a digital feature story by alumna Chaimae Chouiekh (’25) and for an opinion piece by professor Alfred Hermida.
Both wins were in the West Region, which covers British Columbia and Yukon. The RTDNA awards recognize outstanding achievements in digital and broadcast journalism across Canada.
Chouiekh won in the digital Feature News (Large Market) category for her multimedia project “Pyar is Pyar: A Journey in Conservative Surrey.” The project explores changing attitudes toward love and relationships in Surrey’s South Asian community, combining visual storytelling with in-depth reporting.
“There are still so many underreported stories about intersectionality and misrepresentation,” said Chouiekh. “If Pyar is Pyar helped even a few people feel seen, understood, or less alone, then it’s done the job it set out to do.”
In the Opinion category, Professor Alfred Hermida won for his analysis published in The Conversation Canada, examining Canadians’ attitudes toward digital news subscriptions. The piece offers insights into the evolving landscape of news consumption and the sustainability of digital journalism.
“The willingness of Canadians to pay for digital news is a crucial indicator of journalism’s future sustainability,” said Hermida. This recognition helps amplify important conversations about how we fund quality journalism in the digital age.”
RTDNA successes
This latest recognition builds on UBC Journalism’s track record of excellence in digital storytelling. In 2019, alumna Joanne Pearce (’18) secured an RTDNA Canada regional award for her multimedia investigation “Follow the Water: Hidden Cost of a B.C. Town’s Water.”
Chouiekh developed “Pyar is Pyar” in the Visual Journalism course taught by professors Hermida and Uytae Lee. The project has garnered additional recognition, winning a silver award in the 2025 Digital Publishing Awards for Best Lifestyle Storytelling.
Other finalists in the Feature News category included CTV Vancouver’s investigation into unfulfilled service hub promises and CBC British Columbia’s examination of intergenerational trauma.
“Having this project win two national awards in front of legacy media giants is beyond an honour. It’s a reminder that impact starts with a story that matters,” said Chouiekh.
Another student visual project, Friendship Through Foam Swords by alumna Beth Rochester (’24), was a finalist in the digital Feature News category in the 2025 RTDNA regional awards.
