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The Globe and Mail is winner of the 1986 Michener Award
November 6, 1987. The Globe and Mail was the recipient of
the 1986 Michener Award for a series of articles and editorials
which examined an amendment to the Criminal Code. This amendment threatened
freedom of the press by making it an offence for newspapers to make
public the existence of search warrants or police raids without the
consent of every person involved.
The award for distinguished public service in journalism was
presented by Governor General Jeanne Sauvé in a
ceremony at Government House in Ottawa. Accepting the award on
behalf of the Globe and Mail was managing editor Geoffrey Stevens.
The Kingston Whig-Standard received honourable
mention and citations of merit were awarded to the Regina
Leader-Post, the Kitchener-Waterloo Record and the St. Catharine's
Standard (see below)
In its series, the Globe and Mail focused on a Criminal Code
Amendment that banned publication of information on police raids
unless everyone involved in the search and seizure approved. The
newspaper, which had the support of publishers, broadcasters and
media organizations, published several hard-hitting editorials
criticizing the amendment. It also took action by deliberately
publishing prohibited search warrant information. When the Crown did
not take any action to prosecute, the newspaper challenged the
amendment in the Supreme Court of Ontario on the grounds that it
violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court agreed and
the amendment was struck down. The government decided not to appeal
and the amendment was scrapped.
Following acceptance of the award, managing
editor Geoffrey Stevens said - "It's very rare when a newspaper can
compel the government of the day to change the law". The articles
were written by reporter Peter Moon and editorial writer William Thorsell.
Governor General Sauvé praised the finalists and
said; "l congratulate the journalists nominated and awarded here today on your ability to use that power within the context of
a highly competitive and demanding society to demonstrate that there still exists in this world a place for in-depth analysis and
critical assessment" (full text).
There were 74 entries for the Award from newspapers, periodicals and
broadcasting organizations.
Paul Deacon, president of the Michener Awards
Foundation, had announced earlier that Moira Farrow of the
Vancouver Sun and Roger Bainbridge of the Kingston
Whig-Standard were the recipients of the 1987 Michener
Fellowships. This is the first time study-leave fellowships have
been offered since the inception of the Michener Award program which
started in 1970. The fellowships are designed to allow mature
journalists to take four months of out-of-office study to help
enhance their competence.
Moira Farrow, 49, was born in England and has been reporting
for the Vancouver Sun for about 20 years. She has travelled
extensively in Asia and Africa reporting on Third world problems.
She plans to use her Michener fellowship to pursue Third World
studies at either the University of Western Ontario or the
University of Ottawa. (Farrow
fellowship report)
Roger Bainbridge, 46, was born in Toronto and is a graduate
of the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and of Queen's University. A
Kingston Whig-Standard staffer since 1968, he has been editor of the
news-paper's weekly magazine since it was started in 1979. He
intends to use his Michener fellowship to study at first hand
magazine operations in Canada and the United States. (Bainbridge
fellowship report)
The Michener Awards Foundation was established in 1982 to perpetuate
the Michener Awards, which had been started a dozen years earlier by
Roland Michener, then governor general. The fellowships were added
to the Foundation's program to offer further encouragement to
public-service journalism in Canada.
Honourable Mention:
The Kingston Whig-Standard for
a series of articles about five Soviet prisoners of war in
Afghanistan who wanted to emigrate to Canada. The government mounted
an unsuccessful rescue mission in October, 1984, after giving
Russian and Ukrainian organizations in Toronto an undertaking to
bring the men to Canada. In January, 1986 The Whig-Standard decided
to pursue the matter by examining in Canada the reasons for the
government's failure, and by sending three of its staff to
Afghanistan to get the prisoners' side of the story.
Reporter lan Hamilton got the in-Canada assignment. Reporter
David Presser, photo editor Jack Chiang and photographer Mark
Pleasants travelled to Afghanistan to work on the story.
Subsequently reporter Bill Hutchinson came into the picture,
covering developments in Ottawa. Where
the government failed, the newspaper succeeded in finding and
interviewing the prisoners. As a result of the series, all five of
the Soviets were brought to Canada as refugees.
Citations of Merit were awarded to:
 The St. Catharines Standard, for a series of stories by
reporter Michael Clarkson which
exposed corruption and nepotism within the Niagara Regional police
force. Mr. Clarkson's investigation revealed that 27 percent of
officers and civilians on the force were related and brought into
focus issues involving such a high percentage. The series spurred the Niagara Regional Board of Police
Commissioners to take drastic remedial action. Following the story's
publication, the police commission set up a special committee to
monitor hiring practices. It also conducted a review of the $37.5
million police budget, payment of sick leave benefits and even the
administrative structure of the force. The chief of police took
early retirement and charges relating to hiring practices under the
Ontario Police Act were withdrawn.
The Kitchener Waterloo Record, for a series of articles by
farm writer Jim Rohman publicizing a questionable project which tried to claim a scientific research tax from the
federal government. The research program would have cost the federal government $10 million in
tax revenue under the scientific and research tax credit. The
project was dropped after the publicity.
The Regina Leader-Post, for a special supplement - a 64
page booklet entitled: “Hooked, Examining Substance Abuse”. The
newspaper assigned 10 reporters and 6 photographers to study the
dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Its 46 articles focused on the
human side of the problem. The booklet was also sent to schools in
Saskatchewan, along with a teaching guide prepared by the
newspaper’s education specialist.
Judges for the 1986 Michener Award:
Fraser MacDougall, retired, Canadian Press and Ontario Press
council, and chair of judging panel; Gail Scott; Bill Boss, Bedford Mills,
Ontario; Jack Brayley, Wallace Nova Scotia; Jack Fleming, Calgary;
Emery LeBlanc, former editor of L'Evangeline and now director of
public relations for Via Rail of Montreal.
Judges for the 1987 Michener Fellowship
Senator Richard Doyle, former editor-in-chief of the Toronto
Globe and Mail and chairman of the judging committee; George Bain,
columnist and journalism teacher; Lise Bissonette, Quebec writer and
editor; Doris Anderson, Toronto; and Bruce Alloway, a retired broadcaster.
The judges’ decisions are heavily influenced by the degree of
public benefit generated by the print and broadcast projects
submitted for consideration. The annual award is open to daily and
weekly newspapers, news agencies, radio and television stations,
networks and periodicals.
Websites:
www.michenerawards.ca
www.prixmichener.ca
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