UBC Journalism students and faculty have received six nominations across five categories in the 2016 Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs).
It is the eighth straight year that students and faculty from the UBC Graduate School of Journalism have been named as finalists in the COPAs. The nominations are in the blue division that covers academic institutions.
The COPAs showcase Canadian publishing talent and companies in the digital medium.
The website of the Reporting in Indigenous Communities course has been nominated for Best Editorial Packaging and Best Academic Project. The course was taught by CBC host Duncan McCue and professor Kathryn Gretsinger.
The coverage of the federal elections, Elxn42, by students in the Integrated Journalism course led by Gretsinger is also up for Best Academic Project.
Stefan Labbe’s and Alexander Villegas’s story on the dangers of unregulated tugboats is up for Best Article or Series.
The Reporting in Indigenous Communities course told the stories of Indigenous sexuality across six communities in British Columbia.
Other nominations in the blue category include Best Article or Series, Best Video Content and Best Use of Social Media.
UBC Journalism student Jaione Belza Guede’s mini-documentary on trans teenager Tru Wilson has been nominated for Best Video Content. Belza Guede accompanied Wilson and her family as she made the decision to begin hormone replacement therapy. Recent alumnus Peter Mothe was the editorial supervisor on the project.
Students Stefan Labbe and Alexander Villegas have also been recognized for their article on the dangers of British Columbia’s unregulated tugboats, nominated for Best Article or Series. Adjunct professor Frances Bula worked with the students as editor.
The Decoding Social Media Class of 2016 has been nominated for Best Use of Social Media for their Instagram project Vancouver Social, profiling the faces of social media in Vancouver. UBC Journalism director and associate professor Alfred Hermida and Sauder School of Business adjunct professor Meena Sandhu taught the course.
This year’s nominations follow the success of 2015 when students took home two COPAs. The award for Best Article or Series went to students Peter Mothe and Wawmeesh G. Hamilton for their story on First Nations youth in foster care.
Chris Cheung won gold for Best Interactive Story with his multimedia piece on the youth of Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Faculty nominations
The international affairs site OpenCanada.org has once again been nominated for Best Editorial Packaging. Faculty member Taylor Owen founded the site and serves as its editor-in-chief.
Students Stefan Labbe and John Woodside worked as editorial assistants for OpenCanada.org this summer.
Last year OpenCanada.org won two COPAs. The site secured a gold award for Best Editorial Packaging and a silver award in Best Article or Series.
This year’s winners will be announced on November 7 in Toronto.
