Hamilton, April 29, 2017 – The Hamilton Spectator dominated the 2017 Ontario Newspaper Awards on Saturday night, claiming 12 of the night’s 34 awards, including the prestigious Journalist of the Year and Photojournalist of the Year awards.
The London Free Press and the Windsor Star each picked up five awards.
The Niagara Falls Review, Sudbury Star and Woodstock Sentinel Review each picked up two awards, while the Barrie Examiner, Belleville Intelligencer, Brampton Expositor, Guelph Mercury, Owen Sound Sun Times and St. Catharines Standard each claimed one award.
“Fake news is pervasive and dangerous, and for this reason quality journalism matters more than ever,” says ONA Chair Howard Elliott.
“Consumers of news can rely on and trust what they read in Ontario newspapers. There is nothing alternative about the facts gathered by the professional journalists who work for these organizations. They are committed to uncovering truths, and in this way Ontario’s journalists are supporting democracy. For this tremendous contribution, we offer our thanks through the Ontario Newspaper Awards.”
The 63rd-annual awards were presented Saturday night at a gala event at the Sheraton Hotel in Hamilton attended by about 250 journalists, editors, photographers, publishers and sponsors.
Open to 32 daily newspapers across the province, the Ontario Newspaper Awards are supported by a number of sponsors including the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ontario College of Trades, the Ontario Real Estate Association, McMaster University, Magestic Wine Cellars Inc., PostMedia, Labatt Breweries of Canada and Torstar Corporation.
Here is a full list of the 2017 winners and finalists:
Richard Sutton Award for Photojournalist of the Year
Winner: Barry Gray, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Jason Kryk, Windsor Star
Finalist: Dan Janisse, Windsor Star
Martha Blackburn Award for Journalist of the Year
Winner: Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Steve Buist, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator
Education Reporting
Winner: Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Team of Lois Ann Baker, Greg Peerenboom and Todd Hambleton, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Finalist: Andrew Philips, Orillia Packet and Times
Health News and Lifestyle Reporting
Winner: Steve Buist, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Molly Hayes, Hamilton Spectator
Spot News Reporting (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Team of Jennifer O’Brien, Randy Richmond, Heather Rivers, Jennifer Vandermeer, Jane Sims and Megan Stacey, London Free Press
Finalist: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Team of Jennifer O’Brien, Randy Richmond, Jennifer Bieman, Jonathan Juha, Hala Ghonaim, Jane Sims and Dale Carruthers, London Free Press
Spot News Reporting (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Jim Moodie, Sudbury Star
Finalist: Michelle Allenberg, Welland Tribune
Finalist: Jennifer Bieman, St. Thomas Times-Journal
Robert J. Hanley Award for Sports Writing (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Greg Colgan, Woodstock Sentinel Review
Finalist: Cory Smith, Stratford Beacon Herald
Finalist: Patrick Kennedy, Kingston Whig-Standard
Novice Reporting
Winner: Hala Ghonaim, London Free Press
Finalist: Dan Taekema, Windsor Star
Finalist: Victoria Gibson, Kingston Whig-Standard
Editorial/Opinion and Analysis (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star
Finalist: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Steve Buist, Hamilton Spectator
Del Bell Memorial Award Feature Writing (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Randy Richmond, London Free Press
Finalist: Jeff Hicks, Waterloo Region Record
Finalist: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Joan May Memorial Award for Column Writing
Winner: Grant LaFleche, St. Catharines Standard
Finalist: Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star
Finalist: Lorraine Sommerfled, Hamilton Spectator
K.J. Strachan Award for Editorial, Opinion and Analysis (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Doug Edgar, Owen Sound Sun Times
Finalist: Thomas Perry, Timmins Daily Press
Finalist: Hugo Rodrigues, Cornwall Standard Freeholder
John E. Motz Memorial Award for Design & Graphics
Winner: Former Guelph Mercury Newsroom, Guelph Mercury
Finalist: Tania Praeg, Waterloo Region Record
Finalist: Brad Demers, St. Catharines Standard
James Bruce Award for Arts and Entertainment Writing
Winner: John Law, Niagara Falls Review
Finalist: Jim Moodie, Sudbury Star
Finalist: Peter Hendra, Kingston Whig-Standard
Online Photography
Winner: Gino Donato, Sudbury Star
Finalist: Ian MacAlpine, Kingston Whig Standard
Finalist: Dan Janisse, Windsor Star
Investigative/Enterprise Reporting
Winner: Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star
Gene Florcyk Memorial Award for Sports Writing (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Teri Pecoskie, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Cory Smith, Stratford Beacon Herald
Finalist: Jeff Hicks, Waterloo Region Record
Multimedia Journalism
Winner: Mark McNeil, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Luke Hendry, Belleville Intelligencer
Business Writing
Winner: Team of Natalie Paddon and Steve Buist, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Teviah Moro, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Team of Carolyn Thompson, Dalson Chen, Sharon Hill and Grace Macaluso, Windsor Star
Walter J. Blackburn Award for Sports Photography (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Greg Colgan, Woodstock Sentinel Review
Finalist: John Lappa, Sudbury Star
Finalist: Mark Wanzel, Barrie Examiner
Feature Photography (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Tyler Brownbridge, Windsor Star
Finalist: Dax Melmer, Windsor Star
Finalist: Dan Janisse, Windsor Star
Walter J. Blackburn Award for Sports Photography (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Jason Kryk, Windsor Star
Finalist: Tyler Brownbridge, Windsor Star
Finalist: Cathie Coward, Hamilton Spectator
Tony Fredo Memorial Award for Feature Writing (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Tim Miller, Belleville Intelligencer
Finalist: Laura Cudworth, Stratford Beacon Herald
Finalist: Megan Stacey, Woodstock Sentinel Review
K.A. (Sandy) Baird Award for Humour Writing
Winner: Paul Benedetti, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Joel Rubinoff, Waterloo Region Record
Finalist: Michelle Hauser, Kingston Whig-Standard
Green Environment Writing
Winner: Debora Van Brenk, London Free Press
Finalist: Sarah Moore, Timmins Daily Press
Finalist: Jeff Outhit, Waterloo Region Record
Online Multimedia Special Project
Winner: Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Karena Walter, Grant LaFleche, Doug Herod, Brad Demers, Julie Jocsak, Bob Tymczysyn, St. Catharines Standard
Finalist: Mark McNeil, Hamilton Spectator
Municipal Affairs (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Team of Ray Spiteri and John Law, Niagara Falls Review
Finalist: Team of Bill Sawchuk and Grant LaFleche, St.Catharines Standard
Finalist: Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer
Feature Photography (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Brian Thompson, Brantford Expositor
Finalist: Tim Miller, Belleville Intelligencer
Finalist: Luke Hendry, Belleville Intelligencer
Jack Bowman Memorial Award for Spot News Photography (under 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Mark Wanzel, Barrie Examiner
Finalist: John Lappa, Sudbury Star
Finalist: Alan S. Hale, Timmins Daily Press
General News Feature
Winner: Molly Hayes, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Laura Stradiotto, Sudbury Star
Municipal Affairs (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator
Finalist: Anam Latif, Waterloo Region Record
Finalist: Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star
Social Media
Winner: Dan Taekema, Windsor Star
Finalist: Jennifer Bieman, St. Thomas Times-Journal
Spot News Photography (over 25,000 circulation)
Winner: Tyler Brownbridge, Windsor Star
Finalist: Dan Janisse, Windsor Star
Finalist: Barry Gray, Hamilton Spectator
Online Video Production
Winner: Derek Ruttan, London Free Press
Finalist: Team of Dylan Kristy and Jason Kryk, Windsor Star
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