TORONTO, March 27, 2018 – The National NewsMedia Council, in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights, is pleased to announce the opening of the second annual Fraser MacDougall Prize for Best New Canadian Voice in Human Rights Reporting.

The Prize is awarded to an exceptional piece of human-rights-focussed journalism published in campus-based media during the past academic year, as determined by a panel of distinguished judges.

Winners (typically, the story’s writer and editor) receive a cash prize of $1,000 and are recognized for their achievement at the annual Journalists for Human Rights Gala, held in Toronto, where their campus publication will be distributed to all guests. As well, the winning story will be re-published in The Toronto Star.  Last year’s winning piece from The Varsity can be read here.

The award is made possible by a generous endowment of the late Fraser MacDougall, who had a distinguished career in journalism, chiefly with The Canadian Press. Later in life, he was the first executive secretary of the former Ontario Press Council, which was a forerunner to the NNC.

This year’s competition will open on March 27, 2018. Submissions will be accepted until May 15, 2018 at 23:59 EST.

To be considered complete, your application must include:

• A copy of the story in either print or digital format
• The names of the principle writer and editor who worked on the story
• A one page write up (maximum) that contains information on:
  • What kind of human rights issue was addressed
  • Why this story was important to its readers
  • What changes, if any, came of its publication
  • Any other information about the editorial process you’d like to highlight to judges

Queries about the award can be directed to Brent Jolly, the NNC’s director of communications and community management, at: fraser_macdougall_nnc_award@jhr.ca.