Rideau Hall, November 16, 1985
I’m pleased to welcome you to Rideau Hall this evening for the fifteenth annual Michener Awards ceremony. This award was created to honour journalistic excellence in both the print and electronic media.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to my predecessor and award founder, the Right Honourable Roland Michener.
As you know, the Right Honourable Roland Michener is the founding
patron of this award. What is perhaps not as widely known is that he
continues to demonstrate a real interest in the award by giving
unstintingly of his time and energy and through the provision of
financial support to the foundation which bears his name.
This is the fifteenth year the award has been presented: since its
modest beginning in 1970. It has become an event of paramount
importance to the print and electronic media; and a vehicle for
recognizing and encouraging high standards in journalism at the
national level. The object of the award is to encourage excellence
in the field of journalism and in particular to foster journalism
which promotes the public interest and demonstrates high social
values. Broadly speaking, it is our Canadian Pulitzer prize for
journalism.
The journalism profession entails weighty, serious
responsibilities, and the freedom enjoyed by the press flows from
the sacred right of freedom of expression. This freedom demanded by
the press is the same as that demanded by each citizen. That’s
because the ability to examine and discuss issues without constraint
lies at the heart of the quest for truth. Freedom and truth are
essential for promoting and preserving the free exercise of
democracy. For all these reasons, journalists intent on fulfilling
their role and obligations must approach their work with passion and
enthusiasm whenever duty calls.
In Canada and elsewhere the world, we can see how the media are able
to influence the course of events; one need only think of what
happened in Ethiopia and South Africa. These examples clearly
illustrate the impact of national and international reporting.
This evening, on behalf of all Canadians, we pay tribute to worthy
public service minded organizations and their representatives. Of
special note this evening is that, among the five finalists, we have
the first radio entry selected in years.
In commending the various corporations and news services for their
unrelenting support and encouragement of these high standards of
journalism, I wish to acknowledge in particular the men and women
who represent them. In your conscientious pursuit of truth and fact
amidst all other detail, you have accomplished much, and set a
standard worthy of the emulation and respect of your journalistic
colleagues.
My warmest congratulations to you all. It is my hope that this
recognition will encourage you to even higher levels of journalistic
endeavour and public service for the benefit of all Canadians.
In closing, may I leave with you a few of Milton's words from
“Paradise Lost”…
"Servant of god, well done, well hast thou fought the better fight,
who singly hast maintained against revolted multitudes. The cause of
truth, in word mightier than they in arms.”
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé
Governor General of Canada
November 16, 1985