On behalf of the Michener Awards Foundation, I begin by thanking
Your Excellency for your support and your hospitality. I join in
your welcome for the presentation of the 38th annual Michener Award
- and the 22nd annual Michener-Deacon Fellowship
Your support is key to making the Michener Award Canada’s most
prestigious honour for public interest journalism.
Everyone who attends one of these ceremonies - or should we say
celebrations - recognizes they are special. We will soon honour one
actual winner of the Award.
But all six finalists are worthy contenders. They represent the best
of Canadian investigative journalism in 2008. Their success deserves
to be more widely known than we can possibly achieve here at this
ceremony. Their work can be an inspiration to aspiring journalists.
And since we are championing public interest journalism, it surely
makes sense to communicate the results to that wider public we are
seeking to serve.
We are pleased that for the first time, CPAC, the Cable Public
Affairs Channel will be broadcasting a program about the finalists
on its national network. Also for the first time,
www.michenerawards.ca or prixmichener.ca will feature the work of
all the finalists.
The news media are going through a difficult period. New
technologies and the recession are taking their toll. Some are
calling it a transition. Budgets are being cut as newspapers
struggle to survive. It becomes more difficult for journalists to
even apply for fellowships like ours.
I’m reminded of the famous comment of Thomas Jefferson:
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government
without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not
hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter.”
We know that isn’t the choice today. But fewer newspapers and
reduced television news resources are already upon us. We want to do
everything we can within our own limited means to promote the kind
of journalism that is represented here this evening.
We are going to begin the honours this evening by recognizing one of
our own. In 1983, the Foundation created a Special Award. It was
intended to recognize an individual whose lifetime work exemplified
the best in public service journalism.
It is presented only occasionally - at the discretion of the
Foundation.
Today it’s my pleasure to announce that we are presenting a Special
Award to Clark Davey.
Your Excellency, Clark has worked tirelessly for the foundation
through the terms of several of your predecessors. He has served on
the board of directors, including terms as president and secretary.
But, of course, there is much more here than long service.
The distinguishing feature of the Michener Award is that it goes to
a news organization rather to an individual. But we will see shortly
that success requires the talents and dedication of several
individuals.
Clark Davey has contributed his talents and dedication in abundance
through a lifetime that has exemplified the best in public interest
journalism.
As a reporter in the Parliamentary Press Gallery, as Managing Editor
of The Globe and Mail, as publisher of The Vancouver Sun, The Ottawa
Citizen and The Gazette, Clark Davey’s contribution to investigative
journalism is inspirational.
I would ask Clark to come forward and I invite your Excellency to
present the Michener Awards Foundation Special Award.
(Clark Davey award presentation)
The Michener-Deacon Fellowship is Canada’s premier award to
encourage excellence in investigative journalism that serves the
public interest. It has enabled many remarkable projects over 22
years.
There is no better example than last year’s winner. Denise Davy is
with us this evening representing a finalist for the Michener Award.
As a beat reporter for the Hamilton Spectator Denise Davy knew that
children’s mental health was a much bigger story than the one she
was able to cover day to day.
The fellowship allowed her to explore the issues to a deeper level.
She was able to talk to experts across the country and provide a
national perspective. Her full report and links to the series are on
our website.
The judges awarded the 2009 Michener-Deacon Fellowship to Ed
Struzik, a senior writer at The Edmonton Journal. His proposal for a
project on Arctic Sovereignty was a strong first pick for a majority
of judges.
They felt that, though the topic is much discussed and reported, Mr.
Struzik’s credentials indicate he is capable of providing new
perspectives of national public interest.
They believed his stories could make a difference in how Canadians
understand the issue of arctic sovereignty.
In his application, Mr. Struzik pointed out that the rules governing
the Arctic are changing. Eight countries have legitimate claims to
Arctic areas.
Ice is melting at a rate that will allow shipping from the north
Atlantic to the Pacific. The rising price of oil and new
technologies are making Arctic oil accessible. What is required now,
Mr. Struzik says, is a national strategy and an international treaty
to govern shipping and oil exploration.
He tells us he will join an expedition of geologists who are
building a case for Canada to claim an area the size of the three
Prairie provinces. They are also mapping the ocean floor to prepare
for safe shipping. The result will be a series of articles which The
Edmonton Journal has committed to publish. And Mr. Struzik hopes to
turn the series into a book.
Your Excellency, Mr. Ed Struzik.
(Short speech by Mr. Struzik)
There were 31 entries for the 2008 Michener Award.
They included excellent entries from smaller daily and weekly
newspapers, illustrating once again that judges take into account
the resources available to support each entry.
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce the finalists for the 2008
Michener Award.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Canada and The Canadian Press:
These news organizations teamed up to undertake an analysis of
Taser stun guns and particularly their use by the RCMP. They
collaborated on data analysis, identification of vital trends,
interviews and preparation of stories for newspapers, websites,
radio and television.
A scientific analysis by CBC/Radio Canada found that more than 10
per cent of Taser units tested were either defective with some
discharging significantly more electrical current than the
manufacturer’s standard.
Le Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe:
An 18-month investigation by the weekly newspaper resulted in the
publication of a shocking report of misuse of public funds, illegal
political contributions, non-approved and non-verified expense
allowances and suspicious international missions by the CEGEP of
Saint-Hyacinthe.
The investigation triggered an investigation by the Auditor General
of Quebec and recommendations for improved governance at CEGEPs.
The Globe and Mail:
A six-month investigation of Canada’s 911 system for handling
telephone emergency calls found that outdated technology was being
used.
The industry and regulators both dragged their feet on changes.
After the investigation, the federal government ordered a
nation-wide update of the country’s emergency phone system,
including technology to locate 911 calls from cell phones.
Toronto Star:
Scientific tests conducted by the newspaper resulted in a series of
stories on high levels of lead in toys being sold in Canada. This
led to the largest series of product recalls in Canadian history
after federal officials confirmed the Star’s findings.
In the last Speech from the Throne, the federal government promised
swift action to toughen toy safety laws to protect consumers and
their children.
The Hamilton Spectator:
An extended outbreak of Clostridium Difficile at Burlington’s Joseph
Brant Memorial Hospital claimed the lives of 91 elderly patients.
The Spectator launched an investigation, using Access to Information
legislation, computer assisted reporting and investigative
techniques.
The coverage was crucial to action taken by the Ontario government
to increase funding for infection control and to require hospitals
in the province to report publicly on outbreaks of C. Difficile
infections.
Winnipeg Free Press:
A two-year investigation of the state of the First Nation child
welfare system in Manitoba was prompted by the tragic death of a
five-year-old girl.
The newspaper found that child welfare agency responsible for
protecting her did not know she was missing until nine months after
her death.
Following the investigation, amendments to the provincial Child and
Family Service Act were passed to make child safety the primary
consideration.
Now comes the moment we’ve all been waiting more. I will ask Susan
Wheeler director of the verification bureau of the Auditor General’s
office of Canada to present us with the envelope which contains the
decision of the judges for the winner of the 2008 Michener award.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen - the winner of the 2008
Michener Award is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio
Canada and Canadian Press.
Thank you.
David Humphreys
Michener Award Ceremony
Rideau Hall
June 10, 2009
