2006 Michener-Deacon Fellowship
Julian Sher receives the 2006 Michener-Deacon
Fellowship from Governor General Michaëlle
Jean, at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, April 11th, 2006.
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The Michener-Deacon Fellowship was awarded to Montreal-based freelance writer Julian Sher. Governor General Michaëlle Jean made the presentation during the annual Michener Award ceremony held at Government House in Ottawa.
Mr. Sher is a documentary film producer, author of three investigative books and creator of JournalismNet. The fellowship will provide $25,000 for four months leave and support research for his new book, 'Hear the Children Cry - The War on Web Porn', to be published in 2007. He also plans to write several magazine and newspaper articles on the subject.
For his book and articles, he will interview criminal psychologists and attend court proceedings in several cities. The questions he will address include: Are Canada's laws too weak? What can Canada learn from the rest of the world? What lessons can Canada bring to the world. (Update - Julian Sher fellowship report)
Mr. Sher is an investigative journalist, author and internet expert. His Web site, JournalismNet, is among the top 10 journalism sites ranked by Google. He is the author of 'Until You are Dead: Steven Truscott's Long Ride Into History' and 'The Road to Hell: How Biker Gangs are Conquering Canada'.
For ten years Mr. Sher was an investigative producer with CBC’s the fifth estate, where his work garnered a Gemini. His work has also appeared in several major newspapers. He is a former president of the Canadian Association of Journalists. As creator and webmaster of JournalismNet, he has also trained journalists in using the internet as a tool for investigative reporting, and writes extensively about journalism and the web. He lives in Montreal.
Judges for the 2006 Michener-Deacon Fellowship:
Lindsay Crysler (chair), former managing editor of The Gazette, Montreal; former director journalism department, Concordia University, Montreal; Clinton Archibald, associate professor of public policy and management, Faculty of Administration, University of Ottawa; Claire Helman, former filmmaker, National Film Board, former public service broadcaster, CBC Radio, former lecturer in communications at a university in Japan; Shirley Sharzer, former senior journalist, The Toronto Telegram and The Globe and Mail, former lecturer, University of Western Ontario.
The Michener-Deacon fellowship is awarded annually to a deserving recipient. Introduced in 1987, the fellowships of the Michener Award Foundation are to advance education in the field of journalism and to foster promotion of the public interest through values that benefit the community. Each year, one or two fellowships have been awarded to mature journalists who wish to use four-month study-leaves to enhance their ability to pursue public service journalism.