The Free Press was shut out in its four nominated categories at the 2022 National Newspaper Awards ceremony Friday night in Toronto.
The Globe and Mail was the biggest winner, bringing home nine NNAs on 19 nominations in 23 categories.
“It is always an honour to be nominated for these awards, recognizing the best in Canadian newspaper journalism. I’m proud of the work that led to these nominations and what our entire newsroom delivers everyday to ensure the Free Press remains one of the strongest newspapers in the country,” Free Press editor Paul Samyn said.
For the Free Press, Melissa Martin was a finalist for the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Award for her columns on a range of topics, including reporting on the ground in Poland, medical misinformation in the face of a loved one’s death, and the impact of inaccessible winter streets on Winnipeg’s most vulnerable.
The award’s winner, Isabelle Hachey of Montreal-based La Presse, also claimed the 2022 Journalist of the Year Award.
Eva Wasney was a finalist in the Arts and Entertainment/Culture category (won by La Presse) for her profile of Anishinaabe graphic designer and visual artist Jordan Stranger.
Julia-Simone Rutgers was a finalist in the Special Topic: Indigenous Issues-Climate Change category for her work with both the Free Press and the Narwhal on the impact of climate change, including an in-depth look at Winnipeg’s compost system, flooding in Peguis First Nation, and “zombie deer disease” in Manitoba.
The award was won by a team from the Vancouver Sun/Province.
Mike Deal was a finalist in the Feature Photo category for his image of a person lying on a bench near a bus shelter in Transcona in the midst of a city councillor’s proposal to remove the glass walls from such shelters to deter people dealing with homelessness from gathering.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A houseless person lays down on the bench by the bus shelter at the corner of Regent Avenue West and Stapon Road.
The Globe’s Leah Hennel took home the award.
Following the Globe’s nine wins was La Presse with six. The Canadian Press, Halifax Chronicle Herald, National Post, St. John’s Telegram, Toronto Star, TorStar and the Sun/Province had one each. Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post shared an award.
Globe and Mail reporter Grant Robertson claimed his ninth NNA, setting a record for most career wins.
The competition is open to newspapers, news agencies and online news sites approved for entry by the NNA board of governors. There were 923 entries from 76 news organizations in 2022.
