News release

Journalism Awards Call for Submissions

Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is sponsoring its annual journalism awards to recognize reporting on human rights topics and to advance human rights as a subject for reporting.

Three awards in print, broadcast and student categories will be presented on December 10 -- Human Rights Day. A special award of merit also may be presented.

"The mass media play a crucial role in communicating human rights to the public," said Lori MacLean, chair of the panel that will be judging the submissions. "The awards are aimed at recognizing that important role and to encourage excellence in reporting on human rights."

Submissions should be received at the commission no later than Nov. 12. The work may be in English or French, must have been published or broadcast in Nova Scotia media between Oct. 31, 1998, and Oct. 31, 1999, and must have a Nova Scotia connection. A submission must focus on at least one of the protected characteristics 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).

Submissions may be made by reporters, news editors or directors, a member of the judging panel or the public. A person submitting or nominating a piece is encouraged to write a letter, no longer than two pages, 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 in the production of the piece -- the reporter's background, if known (one paragraph)

A panel will decide the winners and reserves the right not to make an award in a category. Panel members all have backgrounds in journalism or human rights.

Part of the mandate of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is to promote awareness of human rights in the community.


NOTE TO EDITORS: Criteria for the awards will follow below. Please post/circulate for staff.


ANNUAL NOVA SCOTIA HUMAN RIGHTS JOURNALISM AWARDS

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.

The second annual Nova Scotia awards will be presented Dec. 10, 1999, as one of several activities planned to mark Human Rights Day.

The Awards One award will be granted in each of the following categories:

i) print (newspaper, magazine or online, for example) ii) broadcast (radio or television) iii) student journalism (high-school or post-secondary level)

A special award of merit may be presented to a deserving nomination that significantly raises awareness of human rights issues. The subject of such a piece does not need a Nova Scotia connection as outlined in the criteria section below.

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

Criteria The nomination should display excellence in reporting and raising awareness of 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. The subject of the piece must have a Nova Scotia connection. The piece must have been published or broadcast in the Nova Scotia media between Oct. 31, 1998, and Oct. 31, 1999.

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. An electronic version -- e-mail or floppy disk (text format) -- in addition to the hard copy would be appreciated. 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. 12, 1999. They should be forwarded to:

Lori MacLean Coordinator, Communications and Public Education Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission P.O. Box 2221 Seventh Floor, Lord Nelson Arcade 5675 Spring Garden Rd. Halifax, B3J 3C4 E-mail: macleall@gov.ns.ca 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), coordinator, Communications and Public Education, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
  • Sherri Borden, president, Black Journalists Association of Nova Scotia
  • Starr Dobson, ATV News, On Your Side
  • Maria Franks, executive director, Public and Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia
  • Maureen Googoo, communications coordinator, Union of Nova Scotia Indians
  • Charles Macdonald, executive director, Disabled Persons Commission
  • Maggie Marwah, editor, Communications Nova Scotia
  • Eugene Meese, acting director, School of Journalism, University of King's College
  • Sylvia Parris, multicultural education consultant, Nova Scotia Department of Education
  • Doug Ruck, Nova Scotia Ombudsman
  • Paul Schneidereit, Nova Scotia representative, national board of directors, Canadian Association of Journalists
  • Lorraine Smith-Collins, consultant, Mi'kmaq Services Division, Nova Scotia Department of Education

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.