Named in honour of CJF founder Dr. Eric Jackman, this annual excellence award since 1996 recognizes news organizations, large and small, that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity—with a resulting positive impact on the communities they serve.

The CJF honoured The Winnipeg Free Press for The Inquest Files, which reported on two decades of inquests into fatal shootings involving several Manitoba police forces. This series examined the barriers and delays faced by one Anishnaabe family to participate in an inquest, exposing how expert witness testimony favours law enforcement and revealing judges’ unwillingness to make tangible recommendations. It is the second time the independent newspaper received the Jackman Excellence award.

In the small-media category, The Montreal Gazette won for a series highlighting the preventable nature of six deaths at the Lakeshore General Hospital emergency room and exposing how the West Island Health Authority covered up the circumstances surrounding these deaths: Staff haunted by suicide at the Lakeshore Hospital ER; Whistleblowers flagged deaths at Lakeshore ER multiple times and Premier “shielded” from harsh realities of Lakeshore ER, sources say. It is the first time the Gazette has received a Jackman award.

Through this prestigious award, the CJF has since 1996 recognized news organizations that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity.

“Last year, Canadian news organizations – large and small, new and old – provided their audiences with stories that helped shape both the country and its communities,” says jury chair Christopher Waddell, professor emeritus at Carleton University’s School of Journalism. “Our finalists have explored a broad range of subjects – climate, healthcare, governance, hate crimes, Indigenous issues, government scandals involving elections tampering, healthcare, COVID-19 spending, and land development.

“At a time when journalism and news organizations are being besieged from all sides about what they cover and how they cover it, it is encouraging to see the quality and depth of reporting all these stories feature — ample evidence that despite the external pressures there remains a sound foundation for Canadian journalism to build on for the future.”

About the CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism

The CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism honours a Canadian organization that embodies exemplary journalism with a resulting impact on the community it serves.

On the 25th anniversary of the CJF in 2015, the Excellence in Journalism Award was named after Eric Jackman, the founder of the CJF, a business leader and award-winning clinical psychologist. Jackman—along with the founding directors—developed the criteria for this award, which reflects his passion and deep commitment to the CJF’s mission, and recognizes his vision, guidance and continued contribution to strengthening journalism.

Since 1996, the CJF has celebrated news organizations that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – accuracy, independence, accountability, courage and originality – with this annual award.

Winners, since 2007, are selected in two categories: large media and small media. Applicants can enter either category, determined by the size of staff for reporting, production, technical and presentation support and the staff they can draw upon within any larger organization of which they are a part:
– large media organization (more than 50 full-time employees)- small media organization (50 full-time employees or less)

Entrants must indicate which of these two categories they represent. There is a $200 application fee for large media organizations and a $100 application fee for small media organizations.

Submission Requirements

– Entries will be judged on a specific story or series of stories produced by each organization during the 2023 calendar year.

– Only material published or broadcast in 2023 may be submitted.

– Only one entry will be accepted from a single Canadian print media outlet, broadcast program or online news organization.

– Entries may have up to THREE individual items on a common theme. Can include: articles, editorials, blogs, photographs, cartoons, videos, radio broadcasts, interactive graphics, multimedia projects.

In addition to a short summary of the proposal, the following questions should be addressed (with the weight each represents):

– Detail the resources in time and numbers dedicated to the work submitted, compared to the overall resources of the news organization. Describe the extent of work that went into the production of the story or series. (30%)

– Explain why your news organization selected this topic. (10%)

– Describe with supporting evidence the distinctiveness of the story (e.g. impact of the story/stories, specific communities affected, exceptional resourcefulness demonstrated by an individual reporter or reporters in a breaking news event, innovative technologies used to deliver the story).  (30%)

– From this list of standards for excellence in journalism, select up to three that are most applicable to your submission and explain why you selected each of them: Originality, Courage, Independence, Accuracy, Social Responsibility, Accountability, Diversity. (30%)

In evaluating each entry, the jury will consider:
– Quality of Writing/Storytelling
– Clarity of Work Submitted – Stated Impact on Community

Judging Methodology

The judging panel is comprised of four to eight jurors (with bilingual representatives), who review all submitted entries through an online portal, rank the entries and then attend a face-to-face meeting or participate via conference call with their rankings to agree upon the finalists and recipient of the award. The finalists will be announced in April and May. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The recipient is announced at the CJF Awards ceremony in June.

The finalists will be announced in April or May. The recipient is determined by a jury.

Please contact CJF president and executive director Natalie Turvey should you have any questions.