The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) has created the Atlantic Journalism Hall of Fame to recognize journalists and journalism builders who have made a significant contribution to the profession of journalism. Inductees to the Atlantic Journalism Hall of Fame could be persons at any stage of a journalism career in Atlantic Canada or retired from journalism or posthumously or as a journalism educator and who generally are recognized as an exceptional professional in the field of journalism either in print, radio, television, and magazines or online or teaching. They could also be persons who have worked behind the scene to grow and foster the profession and industry of journalism. These individuals would have dedicated significant effort to enhance 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 included in a special file on the AJAs website. Anyone can nominate an individual for the award. 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 also be added. Do not include examples of the journalistic works, but URL links are welcome. A committee of the Atlantic Journalism Awards Board of Directors will review the nominations and recommend the individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
This awards is open to journalists with less than three years’ experience as a journalist. The ending date for the three-year rule is December 31 of the AJAs award year. All previous paid journalism work must be counted in the three year-rule, including that which was completed or worked on during or before attending school. New journalists nominated in other years, who still fit the three year rule, may reapply as long as they have not been a previous AJAs New Journalist category Gold award winner. A new journalist is not excluded from submitting entries in any other award category. Students 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 stories representative of the entrant’s body of work. Each entry should be accompanied by a short explanation of the new journalist and the stories in the Show of Work. 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 news editor/director 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 Journalist Award is a cash award presented to a student or students registered at an Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institute. The work the student is nominated for must have been created while the nominee was a registered student. The work must be related to a subject specific to the Atlantic region and can be work created for any medium. Eligible work can include both course work and work created during paid internships or work term placements.
Students can nominate themselves or be nominated by a faculty member. These awards, in the opinion of the judges, display initiative and show excellence in journalism. Investigative journalism stories are welcome in this category.
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.
