Newspaper 'is clearly a leader'

Nunatsiaq News continued its tradition of excellence in feature writing, in-depth reporting and photography by taking nine awards last weekend at the Quebec Community Newspaper Association's annual banquet held in Montreal.

Nunatsiaq News staff dominated the Best Feature Story category, taking the first- and second-place prizes.

John Thompson, assistant editor and senior reporter, took top prize in that category for a story on Iqaluit's beloved Snack restaurant, "Owners, diners mourn the Snack," published Feb. 2, 2007. Senior reporter Jane George took second prize for "Mystery of the serpentine musket," published June 15, 2007

"The Nunatsiaq News is clearly a leader in this area. Too often, stories are squeezed in at the expense of photos and illustrations. Whoever laid out the first and second place features understands how much art can add to the written word," judge Deb Bartlett of the Kawartha Lakes This Week said in her comments.

Thompson also won a first place award, in the Best Investigative or In-Depth Reporting Category, for a series of stories on Nunavut's proposed new education and language laws.

"In his series on Nunavut's language laws and ambitious proposals for the territory's educational system, reporter John Thompson emerged from what he called ‘the swamps of legal jargon' with a compelling story of identity, culture and politics," said judge Peter Downie of Concordia University.

Reporter Chris Win- deyer took a first-place award in the Best Photo Essay category for "Naval gazing in Hudson Strait," published Aug. 24, 2007.

Freelance contributor Isabelle Dubois of Kuujjuaq won a first place award in the Best Feature Page category for "Where dreams become Ranger reality," published July 20, 2007.

Other awards won by Nunatsiaq News include:

• Second place in the Best Front Page category;
• Jane George, second place in Best Environmental Story category;
• John Thompson, third place in the Best Municipal/Civic Affairs category;
• Bill McConkey, third place in the Best Ad category