Former Globe reporter Nolen named Atkinson Fellow

Star’s public editor to be next chair of Canadian Journalism Foundation Stephanie Nolen has reported from more than 80 countries.

Stephanie Nolen, an awardwinning Globe and Mail foreign correspondent who’s reported from more than 80 countries, has won the prestigious Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy.

In her acceptance speech, Nolen said she planned on using the fellowship to explore the effects of COVID-19 on Canadian society. “Where does COVID-19 hit Canada hardest?,” she said. “What institutions created those vulnerabilities … and what will we choose to do with this opportunity?”

The fellowship is a yearlong opportunity to explore “a story that has real potential to change public policy,” according to the award page. The fellowship also comes with a $100,000 prize, funded by the Atkinson Foundation, the Honderich family and the Star.

Nolen’s articles will be published in the Star at the end of her fellowship.

The honour was announced at the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s virtual awards show Thursday afternoon. Rick Mercer hosted the event from outside of his Toronto home, with his show notes resting gracefully on a green binturned-podium.

The Globe and Mail won the foundation’s Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism (large media category) for breaking the story that the Prime Minister’s Office inappropriately pressured thenminister Jody Wilson-Raybould to seek a deferred prosecution agreement with SNCLavalin.

The Star was nominated for the award for its Undeniable: Canada’s Changing Climate series.

It was also formally announced at the show that the Star’s public editor, Kathy English, would become the foundation’s chair, replacing Globe and Mail editor-in-chief, David Walmsley.