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1980 Michener Award Winner - The Edmonton Journal November 7, 1981.
The Edmonton Journal was the winner of the 1980 Michener Award for
meritorious public service journalism. The newspaper received the award for its
two-part entry of stories on abuses in
Alberta's child welfare and foster care systems described by the
judging panel as being "moving and deeply sensitive".
Three other news organizations were also honoured during a
ceremony hosted by Governor General Edward Schreyer at Rideau Hall. The
finalists were selected by the award judges from a total of 30
entries representing print and broadcast news organizations.
Mr. Schreyer extended a cordial welcome to Roland Michener, former
Governor General of Canada from 1967-1974 and after whom the
Michener Award was named. In his remarks to assembled guests, His
Excellency applauded the finalists for their fine showing and urged
them to continue to ensure that the Canadian communications media
remain "the best in the world". (full
text of his remarks)
The first of two projects undertaken by reporter Wendy Koenig
involved the field of social services in Alberta that exposed the
mistreatment of children at a provincial institution in Peace River.
The exposé was responsible for the immediate closing of the
institution and the establishment of a commission of inquiry. The second
detailed the placing of foster children with a man who had a history
of violence and mental illness. The foster care stories led to an
investigation and to sweeping changes aimed at improving screening
of foster parents, monitoring foster homes, and the placing of
children. (The Edmonton Journal won honourable mention in the
1979
Michener Award, also with a series by Ms Koenig)
Overall, the judges were impressed by the remarkable level of
excellence of this year's entries, agreeing that virtually every one
ranked as highly meritorious. It was also an indication of the
growing success of the award in fostering and developing meritorious
and disinterested public service in Canadian journalism.
Honourable Mention:
Chum-FM Toronto, for a radio program, 'The Pillers of Parkdale'
that exposed over-prescribing of narcotic prescription
drugs by physicians in Toronto's Parkdale district. In one case, it
resulted in the death of a 26-year old man from a drug overdose. The
investigation by two CHUM-FM reporters, Tim Laing and Jeff Ansell, often working undercover,
lasted six months. It resulted in applause from medical and
addiction-control authorities, and disciplining of the offending
physicians including the cancellation of one doctor's license to
practice.
Citations of Merit were awarded to:
The Globe and Mail, for an investigation by reporters Jim
Jefferson and Mary Kate Rowan into the aftermath of a tragic forest
fire in near Geraldton, Ontario that claimed the lives of seven
young forestry workers. The workers were trapped between a fire line
they had set and fire lines set out by other workers in a
"prescribed burn", aimed at clearing away forest debris. From
their persistent digging, Jefferson and Rowan established that the real
culprit was not shifting winds but lax procedures followed by the
Ontario natural resources ministry. This led to a full investigation
by a legislative committee and to adoption of new rules for
prescribed burns by the Ontario department of natural resources.
The Toronto Star, for a story by reporter Frank Jones that
led to the early release from
prison and rehabilitation of Khristine Linklater. She had been
convicted in the Yukon on a charge of second-degree murder in the
slaying of her husband after a night of drinking and violence. Jones
found many women in the area upset at the conviction of a native
woman by an all-white jury because they had also experienced life
with booze and violent husbands in their remote communities. Two
women helped him get into jail to interview Khristine, and his
deeply sensitive account of her night of tragedy won offers of help
from many women in Ontario. An appeal court judge released Khristine
to the care of Jones, while she awaited the outcome of her appeal
against the conviction and 12-year sentence. She lived with his
family for a month, spent some time in an institute for treatment of
alcoholism, and also in a detention centre before the appeal court
set aside her conviction, substituting a verdict of manslaughter. At
a sentence hearing, the court set her free, after hearing testimony
from a number of people, including Jones.
Judges for the 1980 Michener Award:
Fraser MacDougall, Founding President and chair of the judging
committee and executive secretary of the Ontario Press Council; Bill Boss,
former director of public relations at the University of Ottawa; Emery
LeBlanc, former editor of L'Evangeline
and former director of public relations for Via Rail; and Charles
Edwards of Delta, B.C., retired manager of Broadcast News.
The Michener Award, founded in 1970 by the late Right Honourable
Roland Michener, then Governor General, goes to a news organization.
The award is the most prestigious Canadian journalism award
established to give the country an equivalent of the fames American
Pulitzer prize.
Websites:
www.michenerawards.ca
www.prixmichener.ca
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