Spot News Writing (under 25,000 circulation)

Winner: Harold Carmichael, Sudbury Star

Carmichael’s stories on Laurentian University’s move to seek bankruptcy protection are packed with smart voices, insight and historical context. He draws the reader in with engaging ledes and clearly explains the next steps in a complicated process, all while keeping the voices of concerned students front and centre.

Runner-up: Galen Simmons, Stratford Beacon Herald

Court writing can sometimes become dry and procedural but Simmons shows a spare but compelling touch as she chronicles victim-impact statements during a drunk-driving sentencing, wisely letting the material speak for itself, while adding well-placed nuggets of poignant courtroom detail.

Runner-up: Luke Hendry, Belleville Intelligencer

Spot news doesn’t always have to consist of “just the facts,” as evidenced by Hendry’s creative coverage of a man who was charged after a toddler consumed pot edibles. After writing the initial news, Hendry turns around an informative story on how the incident highlights an emerging problem.

 

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2021 ONAs: Spot News Writing (under 25,000 circulation)