Two UBC Journalism students projects are finalists in the 2016 Online Journalism Awards which honour excellence in digital journalism.
A project on Indigenous sexuality is nominated in the student journalism category (large). All My Intimate Relations was produced by students and faculty in the 2016 Reporting In Indigenous Communities course.
Students in the 2015 International Reporting Program are nominated in the Pro-Am student category for the Out of the Shadows project. The category recognizes achievement by students working in collaboration with major media organisations.
The project on global mental health was produced in partnership with the New York Times. In June, it won silver in the inaugural 2016 Digital Publishing Awards for Best Digital Editorial Package.
UBC Journalism graduate Emi Sasagawa is also nominated in the Pro-Am category as part of the News21 team that produced America’s Weed Rush Wars, an investigation of marijuana legalization in the U.S.
The UBC School of Journalism has the most nominations of any Canadian organisation.
The Ryerson School of Journalism is a finalist in the student journalism category (large) for its project on the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations on journalism and journalism education.
The Globe and Mail is the only major Canadian media outlet to be recognized this year with a nomination in the Topical Reporting (large) category for its multimedia coverage of the missing and murdered Indigenous women.
International recognition
“Being a finalist in the Online Journalism awards is a tremendous achievement, and well deserved recognition for the insightful, inspired and impactful journalism by our students and faculty,” said School of Journalism director Alfred Hermida.
Last year, Hermida was a finalist in the Online Commentary category for smaller media outlets for his commentary on the role of social media in major news stories.
The awards, by the Online News Association, are one of the top international accolades for excellence in digital journalism.
In a news release, Online Journalism Awards Committee Chair David Smydra said: “The range of this year’s finalists is truly remarkable. In so many respects — newsroom size, geography, subject matter, platform, technology, storytelling techniques and more — judges were extremely impressed by the full scope and achievements of digital journalists across the industry.”
The winners will be announced at the 2016 ONA Conference and Awards Banquet on Saturday September 17 in Denver.
