Staffers win awards
Two Telegram reporters, one former Telegram reporter and one Telegram photographer were winners Friday of Atlantic Journalism Awards.
The Telegram’s Rosie Mullaley, Keith Gosse and Juanita Mercer, as well as former Telegram reporter Ashley Fitzpatrick, have been honoured with Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAS), it was announced Friday.
Mullaley was a gold winner in the breaking/ spot news reporting: newspaper category for her story about an inmate’s death at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s. (https://www. thetelegram.com/news/local/ inmate-died-in-segregationsourcessay-447661/)
For this descriptive and investigative piece, Mullaley obtained information from trusted sources who provided vivid detail of an intense altercation inside the segregation unit of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary that allegedly resulted in the death of an inmate, who was already in the spotlight while awaiting trial on a charge of the first-degree murder of a Labrador woman.
Mercer won silver in the feature: newspaper category for “Remembering Ruby.” (https://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/remembering-ruby-298946/)
Mercer beautifully crafted and told the story of St. John’sborn actress Ruby Holbrook. Holbrook died at age 95 in December 2018, and although her acting career took her to amazing heights in the United States, she was largely forgotten in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mercer dug into her young years living in St. John’s and re-introduced her to the city and the province.
Gosse won silver in the photojournalism news category for his photo, “Serious moose collision.”
Gosse, working a weekend shift, responded to a Saturday evening moose-vehicle collision on the Trans-canada Highway and captured a visually captivating photo that tells the story of an urgent and serious situation. Scenes like these can be very difficult for all who are involved and who respond to them, and capturing such an image while respecting the scene and those working in it takes patience, understanding, skill and professionalism.
Former Telegram reporter Ashley Fitzpatrick won silver in the enterprise reporting: newspaper category for “Muskrat Falls Inquiry.” One of her many articles can be viewed online at https:// www.thetelegram.com/ news/local/inquiry-evidencesays-demand-better-342578/.
Fitzpatrick’s keen ability and unwavering determination to dig into the thousands of Muskrat Falls Inquiry documents and hours of testimony resulted in the presentation to the public of orderly, important and informative articles.
Saltwire Network cartoonist Michael de Adder won gold in the editorial cartooning category for his show of work.
A number of journalists from other local media companies also won awards.
“Despite having to cancel the gala awards night due to coronavirus, the AJAS’ board of directors felt it was essential to continue with the competition this year,” said Fred Hutton, chairman of the AJAS.
“The importance of highquality journalism has never been more apparent as journalists and media outlets work to inform Atlantic Canadians about coronavirus, and to tell the stories that are important to us all. The AJAS celebrate the highest achievement in journalism each year and we congratulate the winners on their excellent work.”