Gazette's Derfel receives two more nominations for Herron reporting

The Montreal Gazette has garnered two more award nominations for its reporting on the COVID -19 pandemic.

The Gazette is among five finalists from across Canada for the CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism, for coverage of the horrific conditions at the CHSLD Herron in Dorval last April.

The award honours “news organizations that embody exemplary journalism and have a profound positive impact on the communities they serve.” The winner of the award, which is bestowed by the Canadian Journalism Foundation, will be announced June 9.

Gazette health reporter Aaron Derfel's work on the Herron disaster has also been recognized by the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec, which nominated him for a Judith-jasmin award in the Investigations category. Winners will be announced May 6.

“It's great to see our coverage of the biggest story of 2020 — the COVID -19 pandemic — recognized on a provincial and national level,” said Lucinda Chodan, Montreal Gazette editor-in-chief.

“Aaron Derfel's story about the shocking conditions at the Herron came at a time when most people had the impression that COVID was relatively under control in the province. His reporting truly changed the narrative about the pandemic in Quebec.”

Derfel had already been nominated for a National Newspaper Award for his COVID -19 reporting — specifically, the E. Cora Hind Award for Beat Reporting. Winners will be announced May 7 by webcast.