Lorraine Locherty accepts the 1988 Michener Citation of Merit award from Governor General Jeanne Sauvé on behalf of the Calgary Herald.
The newspaper received the Merit Citation for publishing ‘Sweat and Tears’, a special report that revealed shocking practices in the employment of immigrant workers in Alberta. In her six ‘weeks of painstaking research on the immigrant story, labour reporter Lorraine Locherty talked to workers in shopping malls and manufacturing plants, interviewed dozens of refugees and immigrants, social workers, labour leader and many others. In addition, she obtained confidential labour department policy documents containing information on the government’s attitude on labour law enforcement. Publication of her report led to prompt action by provincial authorities including a government review of the province’s labour standards act and other legislation.
The award was presented during a ceremony held at Rideau Hall on November 16th, 1989.
Launched in 1970 under the auspices of Canada’s third Canadian governor general, the late Roland Michener, the award focuses on the degree of public benefit generated by media projects, both large and small, in print and broadcast. The annual award is open to daily and weekly newspapers, news agencies, radio and television stations and networks, as well as periodicals. The winners are chosen on the basis of hard-hitting impact, journalistic professionalism, and the resources available for the project.