The Michener Awards Foundation

Ottawa, June 8, 2007 -- The Prince George Citizen has won the 2006 Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism. The announcement was made today by David Humphreys, President of the Michener Awards Foundation.

The northern British Columbia daily won for a series of more than 35 stories that made a significant impact on improving the safety of logging truck drivers. The small daily newspaper used the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to gain access to reports of inquiries by coroners and investigations by the Workers' Compensation Board. While the stories, titled Dying for Work, was running the province hired a forestry coroner and announced more than $20 million would be spent to upgrade forest roads.

The Citizen was among six finalists honoured this evening in a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Editor David Paulson accepted the award on behalf of The Citizen, from Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada. The Governor General also presented Citations of Merit to seven news organizations (see entry descriptions below).

The Governor General also presented the 2007 Michener-Deacon Fellowship to Chris Cobb, a senior journalist with the Ottawa Citizen. Mr. Cobb will research and report on the impact of the International Landmines Treaty around the globe 10 years after it was signed in Ottawa. (full details)

In her address to the assembled guests and with particular reference to journalists attending the awards night ceremony, Governor General Michaëlle Jean said that providing information to the public was an important responsibility but information needed to be placed in a wider context. Accordingly, she added that "you must consider a multitude of voices, facts, and sources. Yours is a serious job that requires patience and precision. But it also requires you to be daring and on your toes. You must always know what is happening in the world around you. It is accepting that you will always ask questions. Otherwise, there is a danger of oversimplification. And oversimplification fuels prejudices. It misinforms". (Full Text)

David Humphreys
President
Michener Awards Foundation

Mr. Humphreys said winners of the Award and Citations of Merit were selected from 47 entries, representative of large and small news organizations. He said the high quality of the entries was an indication of the excellence of public service journalism being done in Canada. “This year’s win by a smaller daily newspaper proves once again that the size of the news organization is not a barrier to success in the Michener Award competition.” Mr. Humphreys thanked Her Excellency for her support of the Michener Award and said the Foundation had been privileged to work with her predecessors over the years as they took steps to maintain the prestige and the relevance of the awards. The award program was started by former Governor General Roland Michener 37 years ago. (full text)

Citations of Merit were award to:

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: A fifth estate report entitled “Luck of the Draw” and follow-up coverage exposed a high level of insider wins by clerks and other ticket sellers in lotteries operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. This resulted in an investigation by Ontario’s Ombudsman and changes in operating procedures at several provincial lottery corporations. (View story)

The Globe and Mail undertook an in-depth examination of the impact of cancer on the lives of Canadians. It revealed that many Canadians are experiencing delays in treatment and running up large debts to pay for basic treatments. While the series was running, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a national cancer strategy. After the series, Ontario announced that the province would spend more than $190 million on colorectal cancer screening.

The Hamilton Spectator, the Toronto Star, and The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo) entered a joint project. Their series called “Collision Course” undertook a comprehensive examination of aviation incidents and accident data. A four-year struggle secured permanent public access to the Canadian database on aviation safety incidents. As a result of their efforts, journalists and others working in the public interest in the future will have access to this important information.

The Nunatsiaq News, a small weekly newspaper based in Iqaluit, reports on one-third of Canada’s land mass. During 2006, the News continued its innovative coverage of the impact of climate change on the Canadian Arctic. There was interest around the world in reports about hungry, hostile polar bears and the use of air conditioners in the Arctic. In December, the Nunavut government held its first conference on adaptation to changes in the environment in response to increasing global concern.

La Presse: A series of investigative stories revealed how the SAQ, Quebec’s liquor board, had artificially raised the price of wine and spirits to take advantage of the falling value of the Euro. As a result of the series, prices were reduced, the chairman and two SAQ vice presidents resigned and the auditor general of Quebec launched an investigation that confirmed the findings of the newspaper.

Citizen reporter Gordon Hoekstra reacts to the announcement of the winning entry. Curtis Barlow, deputy secretary (Policy, Program and Protocol) to the Governor General, looks on.

Representatives accepting awards on behalf of their respective news organizations


Jim Bell Editor-in-Chief Nunatsiaq News	Philippe Cantin Vice-President La Presse	Kevin Donovan Reporter - Representing Spectator, Star and The Record



Dave Paulson Editor-in-Chief Prince George Citizen	Tony Burman Editor-in-Chief CBC-TV News	Sylvia Stead Deputy Editor The Globe and Mail

Russell Mills (chair), Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design, Algonquin College, and former Publisher of the Ottawa Citizen; Kim Kierans, Professor and Director of the School of Journalism at the University of Kings College in Halifax and former CBC News reporter and editor; Dr. Catherine McKercher, Associate Professor of Journalism and Communications, Carleton University, and former Washington correspondent, The Canadian Press; Duncan McMonagle, journalism instructor at Red River College in Winnipeg and former Senior Editor, The Globe and Mail, and former Editor-in-Chief, Winnipeg Free Press; René Roseberry, former News Editor, Le Nouvelliste, Trois Rivieres and President of the Grands Prix des Hebdos du Quebec.