Pierre Bergeron, far left, President of the Michener Awards Foundation, introduces the finalists of the 2000 Michener Award who are seated with their Excellencies at Rideau Hall, May 24, 2001.
From left: Martine Turenne (winner of the Michener-Deacon Fellowship), Russell Wangersky, St. John's Telegram; David Studer, the fifth estate; The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada; His Excellency John Ralston Saul; Jacquie McNish, The Globe and Mail; Leslie Papp, The Toronto Star; Lindor Reynolds, The Winnipeg Free Press; and Dan Gardner, The Ottawa Citizen.
The finalists were chosen from 44 entries and covered a wide range of subjects including: pedophiles using the Internet, misleading claims by remedies used in alternative medicine, abuse of Freedom of Information laws, stock market manipulation, unacceptable police tactics, and the war on drugs.
The Michener Award, founded in 1970 by the late Right Honourable Roland Michener, then Governor General, goes to a news organization. The Award is heavily influenced by the degree of public benefit generated by the print and broadcast projects submitted for consideration.