News release

Criteria: Annual Journalism Awards

Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

PURPOSE
The purpose of these awards is to recognize excellence in reporting on human rights issues and to raise awareness of human rights as an area for reporting. Further, the awards are aimed at helping to raise awareness among Nova Scotians of the importance of human rights in our society.

BACKGROUND
It is part of the mandate of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission to promote human rights awareness in the community. Currently, similar awards are sponsored through the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, the Winnipeg Press Club and the Community Legal Education Association. They have been presented annually for the past 12 years and have met with considerable success.

The first Nova Scotia awards will be presented Dec. 10, 1998, as one of several activities planned to mark Human Rights Day. The commission anticipates the awards will be presented annually in connection with Human Rights Day celebrations.

THE AWARDS One award will be granted in each of the following categories:

i) print
ii) broadcast (radio or television)
iii) student journalism (high school or post-secondary level) 

No monetary prize will be offered. The awards will consist of certificates from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

CRITERIA
The nomination should display excellence in reporting and advance human rights issues. The piece should involve at least one of the following characteristics protected for in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act and the challenges faced by people because of: race/colour, religion/creed, ethnic/national origin, association, sex (gender or pregnancy), physical or mental disability, age, source of income, aboriginal origin, sexual orientation, sexual harassment, political affiliation, marital status, family status, or irrational fear (illness or disease).

The work may be in English or French. It must have been published or broadcast in the Nova Scotia media between Oct. 31, 1997, and Oct. 31, 1998.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Submissions may be made by the reporter who developed the piece, or by a news editor or director, a member of the judging panel or a member of the public.

Only one copy of the work is required to be submitted. Articles or broadcast pieces that ran as a series count as one submission. Submissions will not be returned.

Print submissions should be hard copy as well as on floppy disk if possible (text format). Faxes will not be accepted.

Television submissions should be in VHS format, and radio submissions on standard cassette tape. A transcript would be appreciated but is not required.

Submissions for the student journalism award should be clearly identified as such.

Submitting or nominating participants are encouraged to write a letter, no more than two pages in length, to accompany the submission explaining:\

  • when and where the piece was published/broadcast\
  • why the journalist decided to report on the topic or why
    the submission had an impact on the person nominating it\
  • any other significant details about the production of the
    piece\
  • the reporter's background, if known (one paragraph)

Submissions must be received no later than Nov. 16, 1998. They should be forwarded to:

Lori MacLean Co-ordinator, Communications and Public Education Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission P.O. Box 2221 7th Floor, Lord Nelson Arcade 5675 Spring Garden Rd. Halifax B3J 3C4

Phone: 902-424-3137

JUDGING PANEL
After all submissions have been received, the works will be reviewed by a panel of 8-12 judges. The panel comprises people who have a background in human rights or a background in journalism.

At present, the panel members are:

  • Lori MacLean (chair, non-voting), co-ordinator, Public
    Education and Communications, Nova Scotia Human Rights
    Commission
  • Sherri Borden, president, Black Journalists Association
    of Nova Scotia
  • Yvonne Colbert, consumer advocate and reporter, CBC-TV
  • Maria Franks, executive director, Public and Legal
    Education Society of Nova Scotia
  • Maureen Googoo, communications co-ordinator, Union of
    Nova Scotia Indians
  • Stephen Kimber, director, University of King's College,
    School of Journalism
  • Charles Macdonald, executive director, Disabled Persons
    Commission
  • Maggie Marwah, editor, Communications Nova Scotia
  • Doug Ruck, Nova Scotia ombudsman
  • Paul Schneidereit, Nova Scotia representative, national
    board of directors, Canadian Association of Journalists
  • Crystal Taylor, human resources consultant, Nova Scotia
    Department of Human Resources, Affirmative Action

If a member of the judging panel also works for a news organization, he/she will absent him/herself from discussion and voting of submissions from that organization.

If a member of the panel has nominated a piece, he/she will absent him/herself from discussion and voting on that submission.

The decision of the panel is final. The panel reserves the right not to make an award in a category.