I didn't win a Jack Webster journalism award Monday night and that's OK.
In the month or so between the time I heard I'd been nominated for a prestigious Webster for best news writing and the actual awards ceremony at the Hyatt downtown Monday, dozens of people advised me, "Just being nominated for a Webster is an honour." To which I'd reply, "Absolutely," while secretly thinking, "But I really want to win."
But as it turns out they were right. It was an honour to share the evening with some of the best journalists in print, radio and TV this province has to offer, particularly since this was the 25th anniversary of the awards, named after the legendary and curmudgeonly Jack Webster who spent a total of 68 years in the news business.
When you consider the collective works of the journalists gathered Monday night, I couldn't help but be inspired. Former CKNW reporter Brett Mineer was awarded a Webster for best news reporting (radio)-for breaking the story about the killing of sled dogs in Whistler, while Katie DeRosa from the Victoria Times Colonist won best news reporting (print) for her series of stories called Policing the Police, through which she investigated the need for "an independent, civilian-led oversight body to investigate police-involved deaths and injuries."
DeRosa was the nominee who beat out my series of stories regarding Steeves Manor and how the lives of the seniors living there changed for the worse after the provincial government began moving men and women with drug and alcohol addictions, many who also suffer from mental illness, into the complex.
I had the opportunity to meet young reporters Monday night and their enthusiasm was also inspiring. They included Jesse Ferreras from the Whistler-based Pique Newsmagazine who was nominated in the best community reporting category. Like me, Ferreras didn't "win," but for a young journalist in the third year of his career, a Webster nomination is a pretty darn good start. I also met one of the recipients of a student award, and while his name escapes me, I much appreciated that at the fancy, private finalists reception-on the 34th floor of the Hyatt held prior to the awards-he arrived in jeans and a hooded T-shirt among a sea of suits.
Speaking of dress codes, NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton and a contingent of supporters attended the awards dinner, each sporting a campaign button as big as a dinner plate. At least that's how glaringly large and out of place they looked to me at a function organized to celebrate the best in journalism.
Broadcast legend Lloyd Robertson was the guest speaker at the awards and he spoke about the future and need for quality journalism. Robertson is a great orator and while his speech was lengthy, his message was clear-there is always going to be a need for good journalists. He also took a shot at one of my pet peeves, the use of the term "citizen journalist" to describe anyone with a cellphone camera and a blog. Robertson warned that a citizen journalist with no formal training should be considered in the same class as a citizen surgeon with no formal training. While both provide a service, neither is accountable to anyone.
Working as a print journalist in a small newsroom today is interesting. Besides a constant fear of cutbacks, making the transition from a purely print format to a "digital first" philosophy is not without its challenges. But an evening at the Webster's reiterates that no matter what the future holds, it's telling the story that counts. Whether it's the abuse of seniors, the horrific massacre of sled dogs, the death of a First Nations carver at the hands of police or a compelling story of homeless Canadian veterans, it's the need to tell those stories that continues to drive journalists across this province. It makes me proud to say I didn't win a Webster and that's OK.
Twitter: @sthomas10
