Nunatsiaq News takes home five awards at Quebec newspapers gala

From left, Nunatsiaq News reporter David Murphy, with assistant editor Lisa Gregoire and Quebec Community Newspapers Association president Steve Bonspiel at the June 6 gala. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nunatsiaq News’ editors and reporters went home with five first-place awards at a June 6 gala hosted by the Quebec Community Newspapers Association.

Four of those awards were handed out for excellence in reporting and writing.

Nunatsiaq News’ reporter David Murphy won for best news story, for his coverage of the opening of the trial of Eric Dejaeger, the Belgian-born former Oblate priest accused of molesting children in Igloolik and Baker Lake in the 1970s and 1980s.

Assistant editor Lisa Gregoire picked up an award for best community health story, titled The human and financial cost of trauma in Nunavut, a piece that looks at addictions treatment for Nunavummiut.

In the municipal affairs category, reporter Sarah Rogers took top honours for her feature on Arviat’s polar bear monitor, who works a midnight shift throughout the fall to keep bears out of the Kivalliq community.

And Nunatsiaq News’ editor Jim Bell went home with the Bob Phillips award for best editorial for his May 2013 editorial, Cue the sleaze, please, which pokes holes in a decision by Nunavut MLAs last year to amend the Integrity Act.

The newspaper’s design team also picked up an award for best advertisement for an Arctic Co-operatives Christmas ad designed by Carol Bourne.

The QCNA counts 37 English-language and bilingual newspapers across Quebec. Nunatsiaq News which regularly covers Nunavik, is the only member newspaper that based outside of the province.