UBC Journalism School alumni Enza Uda (‘00), Michael Laanela (‘04) and Meoni Poon (‘07), and current student Cecilia Greyson (‘11) picked up awards last night at the 23rd annual Jack Websters Award Dinner, an event that recognizes the most outstanding journalism in B.C. over the course of the year.
Enza Uda, a member of the School’s first graduating class, and now a producer for CBC Vancouver’s Go Public, won in the category of Best Reporting of the Year – Television for her team’s documentary on Prescription for Profit, an investigation into methadone pharmacies paying kickbacks to Downtown Eastside addicts. The CBC Online News Team, which includes alumni Michael Laanela (‘04) and Meoni Poon (‘07), won in the category of Excellence in Online Journalism for coverage of the provincial election last May. Winner of a Jack Webster Student Award, Cecilia Greyson is currently in her first year of the M.J two-year degree, and is specializing in environmental issues.
“What an outstanding performance by the School,” said Director and Associate Professor Mary Lynn Young. “It is exciting to know that awards are going to smart and committed journalists – with specialized expertise.”
Uda’s passion for investigative reporting began in 1999, when she completed a student internship during the course of her UBC M.J. degree at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Her first investigative series dealt with the plight of migrant workers and was picked up by several major newspapers. In addition to taking core journalism courses at UBC, Uda was required to take graduate-level courses in an academic discipline in order to develop an area of specialization when she graduated. Uda chose political sociology, and has since delved into the underworld of trafficked women, child pornography and gun smuggling.
Mike Laanela has worked with CBC Radio and Television in Vancouver and Halifax since graduating from UBC’s Journalism School, where he specialized in politics and international relations. Currently he is an online editor and journalist with CBC.ca in Vancouver. Meoni Poon, who specialized in multiculturalism, was hired by CBC directly upon graduation from UBC because of his demonstrated expertise in online journalism.
Cecilia Grayson studied literature and media at Simon Fraser University. She completed residencies at Vancouver Cooperative Radio and the 2002 BC Festival of the Arts, and created pieces for art events in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. She has written feature articles for Momentum Magazine, the Tyee, Xtra West and the Georgia Straight.
