UBC Journalism students and alumni were honoured with two wins at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA) on Nov. 20.
They received the two awards in the best interactive story category.
It is the sixth year in a row that UBC Journalism students and faculty have been nominated for the national awards, which recognize digital publishing excellence in Canada.
UBC was the only journalism school to win COPAs this year.
Students in the school’s award-winning International Reporting Program (IRP) won gold for Best Interactive Story for their series China’s Generation Green.
China’s Generation Green focuses on the emerging environmental movement in that country.
To produce this project, the second-year students of the 2013/14 class travelled throughout China, meeting with young families in smog-choked Beijing and shadowing activists drawing attention to contaminated farms.
Once they were back home, the students got to work crafting multimedia online, published in collaboration with the Toronto Star.
Recognition for stories on affordability
The COPAs also acknowledged the work of UBC Journalism students on the cost of living in Vancouver.
Students Hala Kamaliddin, and Emi Sasagawa, won silver in the same category for their story, “Vancouver Housing Co-ops Face No-win Dilemma.” The story was a course assignment in Integrated Journalism for TheThunderbird, UBC Journalism’s award-winning student publication.
It was part of a series of stories by first-year students on the issue of affordable housing in Vancouver.
Kamaliddin and Sasagawa used a Prezi presentation, colourful infographics and an interactive map to help tell the story about the economic challenges faced by housing co-ops in Vancouver.
Stories on the affordability of housing by six other students were nominated for a COPA in the best article or series category.
