Tri-County Vanguard up for nine awards
Newspaper a finalist in eight categories of the Newspapers Atlantic competition
The SaltWire Network’s local Nova Scotia media outlets spanning from Yarmouth to Windsor are well represented in Newspapers Atlantic’s list of 2018 Better Newspapers Competition nominees.
Editorial teams with the TriCounty Vanguard, Annapolis Valley Register and Valley Journal-Advertiser collected a combined total of 24 nominations in the Atlantic Canada journalism awards program.
The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony taking place at the University of King’s College in Halifax June 1.
Of the entries it submitted, the Vanguard was named a finalist for nine awards.
Tri-County Vanguard editor Tina Comeau is a standing finalist in four categories: Outstanding Feature Photo, Outstanding News Photo, Outstanding Investigative Story and Outstanding Resources Story.
The resources story is a personal reflection on the family side of the lobster industry and what, if anything, had changed from her experience the previous year.
Comeau’s investigative story nomination is for a series of stories exploring the ongoing issue of whether cancer radiation services should and could be located in southwestern Nova Scotia and also explored concerns over oral cancer medications and the cost to patients. The stories also looked at a grassroots movement on social media to draw attention to these issues.
Tri- County colleagues Eric Bourque and Carla Allen are nominated for Outstanding Sports Photo and Outstanding News Story, respectively. Allen’s news story nomination is for a series of articles she wrote about Baby Millie, a Yarmouth baby – and her parents – who have inspired many in the face of medical complications that have necessitated several open heart surgeries for this little girl. Millie is a Heart Warrior and is not only loved by those who know her, but by everyone.
The Tri- County Vanguard’s team is nominated for Outstanding Special Section for its annual Lobster Fishing Outlook, which this year was a 28-page publica- This photo taken by Tina Comeau as boats departed the Pinkney’s Point wharf at 6 a.m. on dumping day morning in November 2017 is a finalist for outstanding news photo. This photo displaying their emotion as Dave Stewart and his half-sister Janet Nowell shared their story of meeting for the first time in 54 years has earned former Tri-County Vanguard journalist Sara Ericsson a finalist nod in the category of Outstanding Feature Photo. tion exploring all aspects of the commercial lobster fishery.
The Tri-County Vanguard also submitted work that has been nominated in the Outstanding Online Innovation category. This was a project that was undertaken by the staff of the Nova Scotia weeklies papers in western Nova Scotia that are part of Saltwire Network to create a summer bucket list for readers. It includes photos, descriptions and interactive maps.
Former Tri-County Vanguard reporter Sara Ericsson, now a part of the Kings County News team in Kentville, is in the running for the Outstanding Feature Photo award and Valley Journal-Advertiser journalist Carole Morris– Underhill received an Outstanding Sports Photo nomination.
The Valley Journal- Advertiser swept the nominations in the sports story category, with Windsor-based reporter Colin Chisholm receiving a nomination for his story on Kennetcook boxer Wyatt Sanford, who hopes to go to the Olympics someday and managing editor Jennifer Vardy Little, based in Kentville, receiving a nomination for her story on Port Williams skier Shane Sommer. Freelancer Matt Little was nominated for his article on This photo of Yarmouth High School Students Brittany Paulick and Abby Muise celebrating graduation day on June 29, 2017, is a finalist in the Outstanding Feature Photo category. This photo taken by Eric Bourque during the 2017 Yarmouth Karate Cup held at the Mariners Centre is a finalist in the Outstanding Sports Photo category. Newport native Makail Parker’s season as captain of the Valley Wildcats.
Vardy Little is also nominated for Outstanding News Story for a feature about a Liverpool woman turning to the public for assistance finding a Kings County man who helped save her after a car crash.
Chisholm collected the most individual nominations in the competition, earning five nods in total. In addition to the sports story contest, Chisholm is a standing finalist for the outstanding news photo, resources story, feature story and editorial awards.
Annapolis Valley Register reporter Ashley Thompson is a finalist in the Outstanding Feature Story category for a piece revisiting the mysterious disappearance of Lyndon Fuller, a 22-year-old man who seemingly vanished after jumping out of a third-storey window of the Berwick hospital in November 1988. Thompson is also nominated in the feature photo contest.
Staff at the Valley JournalAdvertiser and Annapolis Valley Register are up for a number of group awards, including Outstanding Page Design, Outstanding Special Section and General Excellence.