The Calgary Herald takes Special Sections top prize
Wins second prize in Magazine category of Great Ideas contest
The Calgary Herald won two national awards recognizing innovation from the country’s largest newspaper organization on Thursday. The awards, which are part of Newspapers Canada’s “Great Ideas” competition, celebrate unique and innovative work across the country.
A first place award was given to the Herald in the Special Sections category, while a second place award was received in the Magazine category. The Herald’s winning entry in Special Sections was an edition of the Herald published on Oct. 30, 2011, called The Philanthropy Issue.
The issue contained several special sections and stories exploring the state of philanthropy in Calgary.
Topics that were covered included the history of giving in Calgary; leading-edge fundraisers; an exploration of how philanthropy has shaped the city; a look at how corporate Calgary and the city’s athletic scene were making our communities better; and a prediction on who the next generations of philanthropists will be.
The edition was prepared under the astute guidance of a guest editor, local entrepreneur and philanthropist W. Brett Wilson, and also included interviews with, and columns from other giving citizens, including business tycoon and philanthropist Alfred Balm.
“It’s gratifying to achieve this award for an edition that celebrates the work of so many generous Calgarians and their philanthropic initiatives,” said Herald managing editor Monica Zurowski.
“As part of this city for almost 130 years, the Herald has a role to play in helping to build a better community and shining the spotlight on those who excel in this endeavour. The Herald was honoured to tell these stories of philanthropic excellence,” said Zurowski, who along with Sunday editor Michele Jarvie oversaw The Philanthropy Issue.
“The issue wouldn’t have been possible without the work of dozens of newsroom staff, who embraced the project,” she added. Those valuable contributions came from writers, editors, photographers, videographers, a creative design team led by Janet Matiisen and detailed data gathering by researchers Karen Crosby and Norma Marr.
Inside magazine, meanwhile, captured second place in the “Magazine, Daily Newspaper — Large Market” category. The semi-annual magazine, created by the Calgary Herald’s Special Projects Department, has received rave reviews from the local home design and decor industry since making its debut last October for its relentless local look at trends putting our city on the international interior design map.
In fact, the magazine’s early success is a testament to Calgarians’ growing interest in interior design, as well as reflecting the sophistication and diversity of the city’s homes market, says Barb Livingstone, Special Projects manager and editor of the Herald’s New Homes and New Condos sections.
“This city’s builders, developers, designers, architects and home suppliers are top notch, which is reflected in our magazine,” she said.
Livingstone is further encouraged by the support the magazine has continued to receive from readers and advertisers since publishing its second issue at the end of March.
“The award-winning entries demonstrate the most creative and innovative examples of newspaper marketing and promotion from daily and community publications across the country,” Newspapers Canada said Thursday.
This is the seventh consecutive year that the Herald has received multiple awards in the Great Ideas competition.