The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) created the Atlantic Journalism Hall of Fame to
recognize journalists and journalism builders who have made significant contributions to
the profession of journalism in the region.
Inductees may be actively working as a journalist in Atlantic Canada, retired from
journalism, or a journalism educator. They should be widely recognized as an
exceptional professional in their field, be it print, digital, radio, television, magazines, or
education. Inductees may be inducted posthumously.
The Atlantic Journalism Hall of Fame is also open to individuals who have worked
behind the scenes to grow and foster the profession and industry of journalism. These
individuals will have dedicated significant effort to enhancing the image and credibility of
journalism in Atlantic Canada and helped create avenues and platforms for journalistic
expression, advancement, and development.
The inductees are honored during the annual AJAs gala dinner and award show each
spring and are included in a special section on the AJAs website. Anyone can nominate
an individual for this award.
To do so, please submit a maximum two-page nomination letter clearly indicating why
you feel the person should be included in the Atlantic Journalism Hall of Fame and a
description of the journalism background and record that supports the nomination. Up to
four additional letters of support can be included. A committee of the Atlantic Journalism
Awards Board of Directors will review the nominations and recommend the individual(s)
to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The committee reserves the right to request
additional information, if required.
The Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award was established in 1999 to honour MacNeill,
the long-time editor and publisher of Prince Edward Island's Eastern Graphic, and a
fearless champion of local journalism.
This award is open to journalists with less than three years' experience in the field. The
end date for the three-year rule is Dec. 31 of the AJAs award year, in this case, 2024.
All paid journalism work must be counted in the three-year time frame, including work
completed or worked on during or before attending school.
New journalists nominated in other years, who still fit the three-year rule, may reapply if
they have not been a previous AJAs New Journalist gold award winner. A new journalist
is not excluded from submitting entries in any other award category.
Students currently enrolled in journalism or communications programs are not eligible to
be nominated for this award. Nominations must be accompanied by a short rationale
along with a sampling of up to three pieces representative of the entrant's body of work.
Each entry should be accompanied by a short biography. Details should include the
story's chronology and circumstances affecting its gathering and presentation as well as
the resources (money/time) available to complete. A recommendation from the entrant's
news editor/director/producer should be included in the submission. Emphasis will be
placed on journalistic qualities such as enterprise, creativity, persistence, initiative and
ingenuity. Judges will look for journalism that provides insight and context to issues of
significance.
The student awards are scholarships presented to students registered in a journalism
program at an Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institute. The number and monetary
value of scholarships will be determined based on sponsorship criteria and the number
of award submissions.
The work submitted can be in any medium, must have been created while the nominee
was a registered student and must be related to a subject specific to the Atlantic region.
Eligible work can include course work and/or work created during paid internships or
work term placements.
Students can nominate themselves, with the support of a faculty member/instructor, or
be nominated by a faculty member/instructor. These awards, in the opinion of the
judges, must display initiative and show excellence in journalism. Investigative
journalism stories are welcome.
Judges will look for journalism that goes beyond the obvious, the ordinary, the expected,
and the regular. They will look for journalism that puts issues in context and in
perspective.
Entries should include an item, or a series of not more than three related stories, that
displays enterprise as well as depth and quality of research. The difficulty of the story or
stories will be considered.
Each entry should be accompanied by a short explanation of the story and how it
developed. Details should include the story's chronology and circumstances affecting its
gathering and presentation.
The Mike Critch Excellence in Crime Reporting Award was created by Mark Critch in honour of his late father, a celebrated radio journalist who passed away in 2015. Known as 'Mr. Crime', Mike Critch worked with Newfoundland's VOCM for more than 20 years. He was a renowned and respected court and crime reporter and had the reputation of being the most trusted news reporter in Newfoundland. Before VOCM, he worked for The Daily News and covered, among many other stories, Newfoundland's Confederation with Canada. He retired in 1991. Mike was the recipient of a Radio-Television News Directors lifetime achievement award, and awards for journalistic excellence from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the RCMP. In 2017 the Atlantic Journalism Awards also honoured Critch for his multi-decade career with a special award to his family.
The winning journalist will receive a certificate and a $2000 cash prize.
Journalists may enter a single story or a body of work on the same topic, consisting of not more than three pieces. The entry shall demonstrate excellence, creativity, and journalistic merit in the presentation of a crime story, relating mostly to criminal activity and may contain some court coverage but should not be exclusive to court proceedings. Two separate entries per journalist may be submitted. Each entry should be accompanied by a short explanation of the story and how it developed. Details should include the story's chronology and circumstances affecting its gathering and presentation as well as the resources (money,time) available to complete.
