It may not have the glitz of the Oscars, but the annual announcement for the Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards is always an exciting time around the newsroom.
Sure, we all know that for every story or photo that gets short-listed, numerous equally good submissions are passed over, but it’s still fun to see the hard work of one’s staff rewarded with acknowledgement from outside sources.
I’m pleased to report that Black Press is once again proving its collective might with the Greater Victoria newspapers picking up 14 nominations for the 2013 British Columbia Yukon Community Newspaper Awards.
As Mark Warner, president Black Press Vancouver Island, says, “Black Press showed that when it comes to community, we have the best newspaper teams on the Island.”
Of those 14 awards, 5 were picked up by Monday Magazine, 5 by Oak Bay News, 3 by Victoria News and 1 by Saanich News.
While the BCYCNA judges will be keeping the ranking of the winners a secret until the community gala in Vancouver on April 20, every short-listed nominee is guaranteed to place either first, second or third.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the work every single person has done this year,” says editorial director Kevin Laird. “These awards are simply the icing on the cake for the teamwork, diligence and dedication to our readers and community that everyone delivers on a day-to-day basis.”
Monday is nominated in the Portrait/Personality photo category for Al Smith’s beautiful cover image of Queen Mudder Lindsay Van Gyn; Joseph Williams’ BlogFarm cartoons were picked for the Cartoonist award; Danielle Pope is nominated for Business Writing with “Chicken Little and the big business of eggs” and Environmental Initiative for “Bio-Diesel: The Real Homebrew,” while the entire team is nominated in the Special Section category for the 2012 Student Survival Guide.
Along with a nomination for Newspaper Excellence, Oak Bay News’ launch of Tweed magazine netted awards for Promotion and Special Publication. Editor Laura Lavin and team are also nominated in the Special Section category for “A Day in the Life of Oak Bay,” while the creative team pick up a nod for Ad Design.
Victoria News goes head-to-head with Monday in business writing for Roszan Holmen’s story, “Taxpayers eat conference centre losses,” while Lavin and team get a nod for “A Day in the Life of Esquimalt.” Laird and team also receive a Special Publications nomination for the popular Progress magazine. And Saanich News picks up an Arts and Culture nod for reporter Natalie North’s piece, entitled “Silent Observer.” M