Climate Reporting Excellence Recognized by Journalism Awards
Many journalists who reported on climate change and the environment had their hard work and dedication honoured during this year's awards season. We skimmed the nominations for you.
May 30, 2023
🌿 This newsletter is 939 words long, a 7.2-minute read.🌿
Climate and environment-related stories were hot topics for this year's journalism award season, from stories about Indigenous climate change solutions to waste management and editorial newsletters.
Some stories got multiple nominations, such as the 7-part collaborative investigation “Fire & Flood: B.C. is facing two extremes – is your community ready?" by Gordon Hoekstra, Glenda Luymes and Nathan Griffiths for the Vancouver Sun/The Province. It won the National Newspaper Award (NNA) for Special Topics: Indigenous Issues/Climate Change and was a finalist for the John Honderich Award for Project of the Year. Â
Many stories were nominated in non-climate-related categories. Le dangereux déclin de la biodiversité, by Cédric Gagnon and Antoine Noreau of Le Devoir was a finalist of the NNA best presentation/design award, and Amanda Follett Hosgood The Tyee’s Repairing the Devastation of the Nechako Reservoir was nominated for the APTN/CAJ Reconciliation Award. Â
We’re thrilled to see so much amazing climate reporting getting the national recognition it deserves. This past month, the country has been witnessing numerous record-breaking temperatures. Ottawa, Ontario broke a heat record on April 13th at 30°C, and cities in Northern Canada like Hay River N.W.T. saw a record-breaking high of 31°C on May 3rd, which just shows the importance of quality climate reporting.Â
We skimmed the nominations for you and offer this little reading list of stories you can’t miss! Â
Isabelle, intern and new contributor to Carbon PaperÂ
Indigenous:Â Â
The Mamalilikulla’s long journey home, and The frontline of conservation: how Indigenous guardians are reinforcing sovereignty and science on their lands, part of The Narwhal’s Indigenous-led conservation efforts, are nominated for the CJF Award for Climate Solutions Reporting.Â
Fire & Flood B.C. is facing two extremes – is your community ready? A 7-part collaborative investigation by Gordon Hoekstra, Glenda Luymes and Nathan Griffiths for the Vancouver Sun/The Province took home the NNA award for Special Topics: Indigenous Issues- Climate Change and was a finalist for the John Honderich Award for Project of the Year.Â
Stories including Inside a 50-year journey to reopen the ‘lungs’ of the Squamish River, The frontline of conservation: how Indigenous guardians are reinforcing sovereignty and science on their lands, and Ontario is resisting Canada’s plans for Indigenous-led conservation areas by The Narwhal were some of pieces listed as finalists for the NNA Special Topic: Indigenous Issues-Climate Change Award.Â
This fishing captain is combining Innuit knowledge with scientific expertise to fight climate change in the Far North by Jenn Thornhill Verma of The Globe and Mail is nominated for the Digital Publishing Award for Best Science & Technology Storytelling.Â
Repairing the Devastation of the Nechako Reservoir by Amanda Follett Hosgood of The Tyee is nominated for the APTN/CAJ Reconciliation Award.Â
Multiple stories including Hung out to dry, From rotting ‘trash’ to rich treasure and Winipeg’s shiny plan for net-zero emissions by Julia-Simone Rutgers of The Winnipeg Free Press nominated her as a finalist for the NNA Special Topic: Indigenous Issues-Climate Change Award.Â
A life – and death – in Fort Chipewyan, downstream from the oilsands by Ian Willms of The Narwhal is nominated for the JHR/CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting.
Biodiversity:Â Â
Le dangereux déclin de la biodiversité, by Cédric Gagnon and Antoine Noreau of Le Devoir, was a finalist of the NNA best presentation/design award.Â
Climate change:Â Â
Meltdown at the Top of the World by Lex Harvey of the Toronto Star is nominated for the CAJ Best Digital Editorial Package Award.  Â
The Big Burn, a large multimedia report which included a documentary episode, by a group of journalists for CBC’s The Fifth Estate is one of the finalists of the CAJ Environmental and Climate Change Award.Â
‘This was our forever home’: floods, climate change and the end of one Alberta community by Drew Anderson of The Narwhal, is nominated for the Digital Publishing Award for Best Feature Article.Â
Friendly Fires, published in Cottage Life by Ray Ford, is nominated for the National Magazine Short Feature Writing Award.Â
En avant pour l’environnement, by Catherine Dubé and published in Châtelaine is nominated for the National Magazine Feature Writing Award.Â
How does the human body respond to rising temperatures? This one-of-a-kind lab in Ottawa is trying to find out, by Kathryn Blaze Baum for The Globe and Mail won the NNA award for best Explanatory Work.Â
Natural resources & industry:Â
La Fonderie Horne contamine la faune et la flore à plus de 50 km de Rouyn-Noranda by Thomas Gerbet of Radio-Canada Info is nominated for the CAJ Environmental and Climate Change Award.Â
The Last Coal Miners for CBC Radio One’s The Doc Project by Kristin Nelson, Acey Rowe, Alison Cook and Jennifer Warren is nominated for the JHR/CAJ Award for Human Rights reporting.Â
Climate Change on the Prairies by Christy Climenhaga of CBC Edmonton is nominated for the Digital Publishing Award for Best News Coverage.Â
Stefan Labbé and Pippa Norma of Glacier Media were finalists for the NNA E. Cora Hind Award for Local Reporting thanks to their pieces Pandemic car-buying spree threatens B.C climate targets and ‘The gap is large’: B.C,’s small towns illuminate urban-rural divide in EV infrastructure.Â
North:Â
Libres sur la banquise by Matisse Harvey of ICI Grand Nord is nominated for CAJ Best Feature Article Award.Â
Waste management:Â Â
Recycler ne suffit plus, by Amélie Cléroux and published in Protégez-vous is nominated for the National Magazine Service Journalism Award.Â
Newsletter:Â Â
Le Courrier de la planète by Alexis Riopel, Alexandre Shields and Baptiste Barbe of Le Devoir is nominated for the CAJ Best Editorial Newsletter Award.Â
Political Climate by Denise Balkissoon, Shawn Parkinson, Emma McIntosh, Fatima Syed, Arik Ligeti, Karen Saxena, Mike De Souza and Elaine Anselmi of The Narwhal is nominated for the CAJ Best Editorial Newsletter Award.Â
The Climate and the Media in Canada newsletter is brought to you by Concordia Journalism assistant professor Amélie Daoust-Boisvert and her team. It’s made possible because of support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Questions, feedback? Reach out at cmrconcordia@gmail.com  Â
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This month, the newsletter is signed by Isabelle Devi-Poirier, Brianna Losinger-Ross and Mélanie Lussier. Editor-in-chief and editor Amélie Daoust-Boisvert.Â