Media graduates of Loyalist College continue to make their mark across Canada. The latest series of national awards included first place in the National Magazine Awards and four top spots at the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) of Canada ceremony in Edmonton.
Drew Gordon, a web designer who graduated from the College’s E-Journalism program in 2008, was proud to be part of the team at Dogs in Canada to receive the National Magazine Awards 2009 Website of the Year Award. “While attending Loyalist I worked really hard to do well in all areas and discovered when I graduated that employers were looking for all of these skills. I love my job and the variety it challenges me with on a daily basis.”
Recognition at the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) of Canada in Edmonton in June included news coverage by four stations at which Loyalist graduates play key contributing roles. The Bert Cannings Award for best newscast large market went to CTV-Winnipeg for CTV News at Six, where 1991 Broadcast Journalism (BJ) graduate Karen Mitchell (Burton) works as News Director. “I am so fortunate to work with such a wonderful team, in front of and behind the camera. Everyone focuses all their energy on telling the stories that matter to Manitobans. It was such an honour to be recognized by the RTNDA in a field of so many amazing newscasts in the country.” The station also won a Prairie Region Award for best large market newscast.
Allan Dearing, a 1998 BJ graduate, is the Morning News Anchor at News 91.9, CKNI-FM in Moncton, N.B., the station that received the Byron MacGregor Award for best newscast in a small market. “I truly enjoy going to work every day. Being a morning news anchor in a competitive radio market like Moncton is really where I want to be at this stage of my career. This would not have been possible without Loyalist College. My diploma gave me a front row seat in the exciting and ever-changing world of broadcasting.”
The Peter Gzowski Award for the best news and information program went to CBC Radio St. John’s for St. John’s Morning Show of which Cecil Haire, 1986 BJ graduate, is a member of the Morning Show team. “I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie and my job enables me to be front and centre to the big news events. The respect of my listeners is definitely what motivates me. That’s what’s most important.”
Steve Lawrence, a videographer for CBC-TV, Nova Scotia and 1988 BJ graduate, covered the Ferguson’s Cove forest fire outside of Halifax last spring and the coverage captured the 2009 Edward R. Murrow National Award for small market TV presented by the Radio, Television and Digital News Association in the United States.
“The College’s School of Media Studies has built a solid reputation within the media industry of preparing our graduates to enter their chosen fields with relevant technical skills and exceptional interpersonal and leadership abilities,” said Jane Harrison, Dean of Media Studies. “We’re proud of the role our graduates play as skilled professionals in keeping the public informed.”
Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332; e-mail: mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca, or Jane Harrison, Dean of Media Studies, ext. 2437