The Deep, Hakai and The Globe win general excellence in 2018 Digital Publishing Awards

The awards for general excellence in digital publishing at the Digital Publishing Awards have been made to The Deep (small circulation), Hakai Magazine (medium) and The Globe and Mail (large). The awards were presented Tuesday night by the National Media Awards Foundation, which also presents the National Magazine Awards (this Friday).

A total of 79 Canadian digital publications participated in the DPAs, in 23 awards categories. 78 individuals served as judges for this year's awards. They nominated 106 entries from 37 different digital publications. 

Of The Deep, the judges said:

"They’re doing remarkable work with a very small staff, using their resources intelligently so that each story has the greatest impact. Their mandate—to tell in depth stories based on the East Coast—feels not only necessary, especially with the erosion of local news, but like one that they are well-positioned to carry out, considering their balance of a considered design with engaging stories,” remarked the digital publishing awards jury. “As traditional publishers grapple with diminished capacity, it will take efforts like those of The Deep, to ensure deeper, longer stories are still told and more importantly, heard!”

Of Hakai, the judges remarks were:

“Hakai is the realization of what a great digital magazine can be. With beautiful imagery, clean design, crisp writing, and well-integrated digital features, Hakai sets the standard for a high-quality digital publication,” said the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Everything about the site is in support of its content and the reader, as it should be.” Hakai Magazine received six other awards in various categories, including a second gold in Best Online Video - Feature. 

Of The Globe and Mail, it was said:

“The Globe and Mail team produced an extremely innovative body of work. Their editorial mandate was not only fulfilled, it was surpassed and truly represented the highest of journalistic standards.”  The Globe won gold for best digital design.

Elizabeth Melito of CBC News was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Emerging Excellence Award. The award honours an individual whose early work in Canadian digital publishing shows the highest degree of craft and promise. The jury said they were 

“exceptionally impressed by Elizabeth's clear demonstration of leadership and initiative in a large and respected organization like CBC News. She joined CBC News, her first media job, in 2015. In a short time she has earned a high level of respect and responsibility and has developed two custom long-form development tools that have been rolled out nationally at CBC.”

Brodie Fenlon, the Senior Director of Daily News and Bureaus for the CBC, was the recipient of the 2018 Digital Publishing Leadership Award. The award honours an individual whose career contributions to Canadian digital publishing deserve recognition and celebration.

Highlights of other winners:

• Gold winning publications: HuffPost Québec, ICI Radio-Canada Première, The Deep and The Sprawl all captured their first Digital Publishing Awards this year. 
• The leading publication in this year's Digital Publishing Awards is The Globe and Mail. The “Unfounded” investigation—led by Dennis Choquett, Robyn Doolittle, Laura Blenkinsop, Jeremy Agius, and Michael Pereira—won Gold in both Best Digital Editorial Package and Best News Coverage.
• Hakai Magazine was also a top-winning publication, receiving two Gold medals, two Silver medals, and three Honourable Mentions. Jude Isabella, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, contributed to three of those winning pieces. 
• “Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2017,” published in Air Canada enRoute, won two silver medals, in the categories of Best Online Video: Short and Best Digital Editorial Package. 
• Global News (globalnews.ca) was a two-time winner: “Canada’s #ToxicSecret” was the Gold winner in the Best Social Storytelling category, while “Fire Watch: B.C. Wildfire Coverage” was the Silver winner in the Best News Coverage category. 
• In addition, Gold winning publications include Canadian Art, CBC News, Global News (globalnews.ca), Hakai Magazine, HuffPost Quebec, ICI Radio-Canada Première, The Globe and Mail, The Sprawl, The Walrus, and TVO.org. 
• Taking home Silver medals are Air Canada enRoute, BuzzFeed Canada, CBC News, CBC Original Podcasts, Discourse Media, Global News (globalnews.ca), Hakai Magazine, Hazlitt, National Observer, Options politiques, The Globe and Mail, Today’s Parent, Toronto Life, and VICE. 

To view the winners in all 23 categories live.digitalpublishingawards.ca. Follow the Digital Publishing Awards on Twitter @DPAwards and #DPA18. [Also, a complete list of the results are after the break below]

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Digital Publishing Awards nominees named

The nominees have been announced for the 3rd annual Digital Publishing Awards, recognizing excellence in the content and creation of Canadian digital publications. This year, 79 Canadian digital publications entered the DPAs, submitting entries for consideration in 23 awards categories. The top overall prize—General Excellence in Digital Publishing—will be presented in three divisions, for small, medium and large publications.

"We are extremely proud to present the third annual Digital Publishing Awards. The work of the creators and publishers nominated this year speaks to the astounding quality of digital journalism produced here in Canada. To celebrate these innovative, hard working individuals on a national stage and beyond is a true privilege," said NMAF President Nino Di Cara.

Gold, silver and honourable mention awards will be presented at the Digital Publishing Awards soirée on May 29th at One King West in Toronto, hosted by Adrian Lee, the opinions editor for Maclean's. Gold winners in most categories include a $500 cash prize. Tickets are on sale at digitalpublishingawards.ca.

• The top nominees this year are: The Globe and Mail, CBC, Hakai Magazine,Today's Parent, Chatelaine, Hazlitt, TVO.org, VICE Québec, and Winnipeg Free Press.
• Earning two nominations each are Air Canada enRoute, Canadian Art, Global News (globalnews.ca), L'actualité, Le Devoir, National Observer,Passport 2017, Sportsnet, The Deep, Toronto Life, and URBANIA.
• The 2018 Digital Publishing Leadership Award will be presented to Brodie Fenlon, senior director of daily news and bureaus for the CBC. Described by his peers as a "transformative leader" and an "incredibly positive and galvanizing force", Brodie is lauded for his remarkable achievements and generous personality. Click here to read Brodie's full biography.
• The three standout nominees for the coveted emerging excellence award, which honours an individual whose early work in Canadian digital publishing shows the highest degree of craft and promise, are: Elizabeth Melito of CBC News, Graeme Bruce of the Winnipeg Free Press, and Ishani Nath of the entertainment pillar of Rogers Media (FLARE and Hello! Canada).

The nominees for general exellence are:

Small publication

• Fjordreview.com, Fjord Review
• Nationalobserver.com, National Observer
• Thedeepmag.ca, The Deep

Medium publication

• Hakaimagazine.com, Hakai Magazine
• Passport2017.ca, Passport
• Todaysparent.com, Today's Parent

Large publication

• Theglobeandmail.com, The Globe and Mail
• Ledevoir.com, Le Devoir
• winnipegfreepress.com, Winnipeg Free Press

A complete list of nominees and finalists in all categories.

Globe and Mail leads in Digital Publishing Awards; Canadian Art and CBC News win general excellence golds

The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) Thursday evening announced the winners of the 2017 Digital Publishing Awards, recognizing excellence in the content and creation of Canadian digital publications. Gold and Silver awards were made in 21 categories at the Digital Publishing Awards Soirée held at the Spoke Club in Toronto's King West district and hosted by author and illustrator Evan Munday.

“Congratulations to the winners of the 2017 Digital Publishing Awards. The impressive achievements we have honoured tonight underscore the incredible innovation, diversity, and creativity of Canada's digital creators and publishers. We are fortunate to have a vibrant digital media industry in this country and we are proud to support it with the Digital Publishing Awards program.” – Nino Di Cara, NMAF President

Digital Publishing Awards winners in many categories received a $500 cash prize with their award.

Visit live.digitalpublishingawards.ca to view the nominees and winners in all 21 categories.

 GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL PUBLISHING

Canadian Art won the Gold Medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications.

 “The originality and the creativity of the article subjects is striking,” said the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Making a magazine that's both dense and approachable is what every editor hopes to achieve, and Canadian Art has succeeded where a lot of us fall short."

CBC News won the Gold Medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.

 "CBC News represents a high-water mark for digital publishing in Canada,” remarked the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Outstanding writing is backed up with photography, video and interactive assets across a breath of topics that matter to Canadians. The team at CBC News continues a great tradition of producing a site that not only leads its peers in Canada, but stands comfortably with any news organization in the world.”

The CBC News team won 3 other Gold Medals in Best News Coverage: Local & Provincial, Best Online Video: Short and Best Service Feature: Family, Health & Careers.

EMERGING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Naël Shiab of L’actualité was named this year’s recipient of the Emerging Excellence Award. The award honours an individual whose early work in Canadian digital publishing shows the highest degree of craft and promise.

According to the Emerging Excellence Award jury:

“Naël Shiab is a bright light shining across the world of journalism. He combines the inquisitiveness and skepticism of a journalist with the creativity and three-dimensional thinking of a coder to create astonishing data-led work that illuminates and educates and entertains. He is the future of journalism and the more Naël Shiabs at work, the better off we are as an informed citizenry.”

 DIGITAL PUBLISHING LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Digital Publishing Leadership Award was presented to Kenny Yum, managing editor of HuffPost Canada. The award honours an individual whose career contributions to Canadian digital publishing deserve recognition and celebration.

“Kenny Yum is the kind of journalistic leader who represents everything that’s exciting and worthwhile in our industry. Long before digital media was a priority for most places, Kenny was already working on merging high-quality Canadian journalism with innovative formats to connect intimately with audiences. After roles at The Globe and Mail, National Post, Financial Post and CBC, Kenny helped launched HuffPost Canada six years ago. There, he’s built one of the country’s youngest, most culturally diverse newsrooms, where he challenges us to strive for excellence and innovation every day.” - Andree Lau, Managing Editor of News at HuffPost Canada

WINNERS HIGHLIGHTS

16 different publications received Digital Publishing Awards this year, including 10 publications which received their first-ever award.

• Canadian Art, Canadian Press, Discourse Media, Hazlitt, HuffPost Canada, L’actualité, Policy Options, Ryerson Review of Journalism, VICE and Wedding Bells all won their first Digital Publishing Award this year.
• CBC News, BuzzFeed Canada, Hakai Magazine, Today’s Parent, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Life won Digital Publishing Awards for the second year.
• Naël Shiab won the inaugural Emerging Excellence Award, as well as the Silver Medal in Best Digital Initiative for his L’actualité piece, “Allez-vous être remplacé par un robot? Demandez-le à… notre robot!”
• The Globe and Mail’s “Crichton Farm” story won Gold in two categories: Best Feature Article: Short and Best Social Storytelling.
• Toronto Life won the Gold Medal in Best Digital Design for the second year in a row.
• The leading publication in this year’s Digital Publishing Awards is The Globe and Mail, winning a total of 12 awards, including 8 Gold and 4 Silver. They also received Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.

Visit live.digitalpublishingawards.ca to view the winners and runners up in all 21 categories.
 2017 DIGITAL PUBLISHING AWARDS RESULTS (see below)

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Nominees announced for Digital Publishing Awards

The Digital Publishing Awards have announced the nominees for the 2nd annual (2017) awards program in an expanded number of categories that recognize content and creation of Canadian digital publications. The awards are produced by the National Media Awards Foundation. 

Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be presented at the Digital Publishing Awards soirée on Thursday, June 1 at the Spoke Club, 600 King Street West in Toronto, hosted by author and illustrator Evan Munday. 

Gold winners in most categories include a $500 cash prize. Tickets are on sale at digitalpublishingawards.com.

Highlights of the nominations:

The top nominees this year are The Globe and Mail (17), CBC News (11), BuzzFeed Canada (5), Hakai Magazine (5), The Huffington Post Canada (4), Toronto Life (4), and VICE (3)

Canadian Art, Global News, Hazlitt, Maclean’s, Policy Options Today’s Parent, and L’actualité earned two nominations each.

For the second year in a row, Air Canada enRoute’s “Best New Restaurants” guide is nominated, this year for Best Digital Editorial Package.

TorontoLife.com is nominated for the second time in the Best Digital Design category.

The Maclean’s story “How to Go On After Leonard Cohen” written by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall is nominated twice, in both Best Arts & Culture Story and Best Personal Essay.

The “Crichton Farm” piece published in The Globe and Mail is nominated twice, in both Best Short Feature and Best Social Storytelling.

Top entered news stories of 2016 include the fentanyl crisis, the Fort McMurray wildfires, cyber security, marijuana legalization and the Canadian real estate market.

Three individuals have been nominated for the Emerging Excellence Award, which recognizes early work in the field:

• Manisha Krishnan of VICE
• Naël Shiab of L'actualité and 
• Tom Cardoso of The Globe and Mail 

Among publications receiving their first  nomination this year were:

• Discourse Media
• Daily Xtra
• Fashion Magazine
• FILLER Magazine
• Global News (globalnews.ca)
• GUTS Magazine
• Liisbeth
• National Observer
• NOW Magazine
• NUVO Magazine
• Policy Options
• Ryerson Review of Journalism
• The Canadian Press
• The Tyee
• urbania.ca
• VICE
• Weddingbells and 
• YMC

Below is the complete list of 2017 nominees

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Entries are open for Digital Publishing Awards 2017; deadline Jan 31

The National Magazine Awards Foundation is now accepting entries for the 2017 Digital Publishing Awards, honouring excellence by Canada's digital publishers and creators in 22 awards categories. The deadline is January 31.

Entries are open to Canadian digital publishers and content creators whose work appeared during 2016. Eligible publications—including those that support established brands in magazine, newspaper, broadcast, B2B and other journalism, as well as those that serve their audiences exclusively as digital brands—is one with a permanent editorial staff in Canada and published in either English or French or a combination of both.

Awards for individual creators include a cash prize of $500. Entry fees for most awards is $95 at the early-bird rate (by January 20).

After its inauguration in 2016, the Digital Publishing Awards has expanded its program under the guidance of our Advisory Committee, feedback from participants and judges, and the NMAF Board of Directors. New this year:

• The top overall prize—General Excellence in Digital Publishing—will be presented in two divisions, for large and small publications.
• Other new categories include:
• Best Social Storytelling
• Best Online Video in 3 divisions:
• Short (under 2 minutes)
• Feature (2-5 minutes)
• Mini-Doc (more than 5 minutes
• Best News Coverage in 2 divisions:
• Provincial & Local
• National & International
• Best Personal Essay
• Best Arts & Culture
• Best Service Feature: Lifestyle
• Best Service Feature: Family, Health & Careers
• Best Fashion & Beauty
• Emerging Excellence Award
• Digital Publishing Leadership Award

"In our second year as Canada's preeminent digital awards competition, the 2017 DPAs have expanded to reflect new trends and attitudes in digital publishing and content," said Nino Di Cara, president of the NMAF. "Over the past year, Canadian publishers and creators have thrilled audiences with informative and innovative digital journalism and storytelling. We are looking forward to rewarding the very best of Canada's digital creators."

Full press release

Digital Publishing Awards broadens, adds categories for Yr 2 and includes $500 for gold

The National Magazine Awards Foundation has announced the new category lineup for its 2nd annual Digital Publishing Awards. There will be awards in 22 categories focussing on the work of Canadian digital creators, while reflecting new trends and attitudes toward digital publishing and content, said a release. In addition to changes and broadening of the category lineup, gold winners will now receive a $500 prize.

Entries will be accepted starting January 2. The deadline for submissions will be January 31. 

• The top overall prize—General Excellence in Digital Publishing—will be presented in two divisions, for large and small publications.

Other new categories:

• Best Social Storytelling
• Best Online Video in 3 divisions:
• Short (under 2 minutes)
• Feature (2-5 minutes)
• Mini-Doc (more than 5 minutes)
• Best News Coverage in 2 divisions:
• Provincial & Local
• National & International
• Best Personal Essay
• Best Arts & Entertainment Story
• Best Service Feature: Lifestyle
• Best Service Feature: Family, Health & Careers
• Best Fashion & Beauty
• Emerging Excellence Award
• Digital Publishing Leadership Award

The changes were made with the advice of an advisory committee including:

• Craig Silverman, Editor-in-Chief, BuzzFeed Canada
• Kenny Yum, Managing Editor, Huffington Post Canada
• Kathy Vey, Executive Producer, Digital, TVO.org
• Haley Cullingham, Senior Editor, Digital, Hazlitt and Penguin Random House Canada
• Laura de Carufel, Editor-in-Chief, The Kit

"After a successful inaugural year, the industry feedback clearly indicated there was a need to broaden the Digital Publishing Awards to be more inclusive of areas of excellence in the digital landscape," said NMAF president Nino Di Cara. "We surveyed our judges, sought feedback from our participants, and convened an Advisory Committee of industry experts to help shape the program for the future. Based on these learnings, the program has substantively evolved to recognize excellence in digital content and journalism, and in particular to call attention to the best practices and innovations in the craft. We believe the program this year reflects that enthusiasm."

CBCNews.ca named digital publication of the year in inaugural DPA awards

CBCNews.ca was last night named digital publication of the year in the inaugural Digital Publishing Awards, presented by the National Magazine Awards Foundation. It also won in three other gold medals in other categories (see below).

The DPAs, as they'll doubtless be called, precede the long-established National Magazine Awards which take place Friday evening as the culmination of Magazines Week. Previous to  this the Magawards have endeavoured to recognize digital publishing -- as opposed to traditional print --  in a variety of ways; the latest is this new awards program. Joyce Byrne, the president of the foundation (and publisher of Avenue Calgary) said:

“The inaugural Digital Publishing Awards have been a great success. It was wonderful to have so many of Canada’s best digital creators gathered together to recognize outstanding journalism, celebrate their exceptional creativity and learn from each other. As I look at the work of the nominees and winners this year, it’s clear that digital publishing has a bright future in Canada.”

Among the winners in the awards:

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Nominees announced for first annual Digital Publishing Awards

Maclean's magazine, received the most nominations (11) in the first annual Digital Publishing Awards. Finalists were announced today by the National Magazine Awards Foundation in 14 categories.Some 63 Canadian digital publications participated in the DPAs. 

Top Nominees for the 2016 Digital Publishing Awards

Publication	Nominations
Maclean’s	11
The Globe and Mail	10
Toronto Star	8
CBCNews.ca	6
Toronto Life	5
L’actualité	4
Sportsnet	4
Hakai Magazine	3
Buzzfeed Canada	2
Torontoist	2

Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be presented at the inaugural Digital Publishing Awards soirée on Thursday, June 9 at the Spoke Club’s Portland Room at 600 King Street West, Toronto. The host will be Christopher Frey, the Toronto-based writer, editor, teacher and radio producer. Gold and Silver awards in most categories include a cash prize. Tickets are on sale at http://live.digitalpublishingawards.ca/

The nominees include:

DIGITAL PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

• Canadian Business
• CBCNews.ca
• L'actualité
• Maclean’s
• Toronto Life

BEST DIGITAL INITIATIVE

• L'actualité: Le Signal
• National Film Board of Canada: I Love Potatoes
• The Globe and Mail: Tools Suite
• Toronto Star: Star Touch Slice

BEST USE OF MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

• Maclean’s
• Sportsnet
• Today’s Parent
• Toronto Life

BEST DIGITAL DESIGN

• Air Canada enRoute: Canada’s Best New Restaurants
• Hakai Magazine: hakaimagazine.com
• Maclean’s: The Bulldog Edition
• Toronto Life: torontolife.com
• Toronto Star: Star Touch

Digital Publishing Awards to be launched in 2016 by National Magazine Awards

The National Magazine Awards Foundation is to launch a new Digital Publishing Awards program in the new year. According to a release today, the inaugural call for entries will be sometime in January. 

Canadian digital publishers—including those that support established brands in magazine, newspaper, broadcast and other journalism, as well as those that serve their audiences exclusively as digital brands—will be eligible to participate, including those that publish in either English or French....

 "Digital publishing in Canada is robust and exciting, and now there will be a truly national and not-for-profit awards program and publicity campaign to support its achievements," said Craig Silverman, the founding editor of BuzzFeed Canada and one of the advisors on the project. "Our vision for the Digital Publishing Awards is a program that accurately and fairly reflects the incredible landscape of online media in Canada. It will recognize excellence amongst our peers, serve as inspiration and education to continue to engage audiences with impactful digital media, and will be celebrated by our editorial teams, our readers and consumers, and our sponsors and advertisers."

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