2023 Finalists

Large Media Category (more than 50 full-time employees)

The five finalists in the large media category (more than 50 full-time employees) and the stories and/or series shortlisted for the award are: 

• CTV News for Broken System: EMS Crisis in Alberta, which investigates the problems plaguing the province’s ambulance system with a focus in Calgary and the surrounding rural areas. 
• Global News with APTN for Profiting Off Kids a landmark investigation, spanning nearly 30 stories online and on TV, which reveals how some of Ontario’s most vulnerable children are being treated as commodities when placed into foster care and group homes. 
• The Globe and Mail for its coverage of the sexual assault scandals at Hockey Canada:  How Hockey Canada used registration fees to build a fund to cover sexual-assault claims; Court filing reveals new details about alleged Hockey Canada group sexual assault; and Shut Out.
• The Investigative Journalism Bureau/Toronto Star for Suspended, their reporting on unfair license loss in Ontario.
• The Narwhal/Toronto Star for their investigation into the Ontario government’s decision to open 7,400 acres of protected greenbelt land to development:  Six developers bought Greenbelt land after Ford came to power. Now, they stand to profit; Ontario is poised to double the size of the Bradford Bypass, documents suggest; and Ontario has found 11 species at risk along the planned route of Highway 413: documents. 

Small media category (fewer than 50 full-time employees) 

• Canada’s National Observer for The Salmon People, a podcast about the work of biologist Alexandra Morton, who used science to warn government of the diseases and waste coming from farms, and was targeted by both government and industry.
• CBC Saskatchewan for Disputed History; Missing book, non-existent honour, leaked membership list among new Turpel-Lafond revelations; and Rescind Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degrees or we’ll return ours, say high-profile Indigenous women
• The Discourse Nanaimo for It Takes a Village, an investigation into the conditions endured by low-income seniors living in Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society homes.  
• Eastern Graphic for Through the Cracks, a year-long examination of mental health and addiction services in Prince Edward Island.
• The Free Press for parallel investigations into outdated and haphazard physician and teacher oversight in Manitoba, Out-of-sight oversight; Diagnosis disrespect and Truth and hidden consequences.

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 2021 calendar year.

– Only material published or broadcast in 2021 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 virtual ceremony in June 2022.

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.