Attending the British Columbia & Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s “Ma Murray Awards” held in Richmond this past weekend, I was bowled over by the amount of enthusiasm and positivity that emanated from every newspaper team I met.
If newspapers are a dying breed, community newspapers haven’t been given the memo — especially since the stories they deliver are the type that national media ignores, yet are the most important for a local audience. Community papers thrive by informing the reader not only about what is going on within their municipality, but also what is happening with their neighbours.
Here at Monday, we attempt to do the same by bringing you interesting and important stories about local people and events that we believe will have a lasting impact.
It was interesting to note that it was some of our more controversial stories over the past year that impressed the judges the most. Our first gold trophy of the evening went to Brian Kieran for best columnist, while our second gold trophy went to our editorial look at what Kimberly Proctor’s teen killers would face behind bars. This was a divisive piece among readers, but one that both writer Tim Collins and myself are very proud of. Our third gold of the evening was a real team effort that was awarded for the look, feel and promotion of Monday’s redesign. In total, we brought home seven awards, with Monday writers Danielle Pope and Mary Ellen Green nabbing two silvers and two bronzes. I feel like a proud dad busting the buttons on his waistcoat.
We also couldn’t have been in better company with the Black Press Vancouver Island group ending the night with 29 top-three finishes. M