Due in large part to its extensive coverage of the May 2016 wildfires in Fort McMurray, Global Edmonton won six Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Prairie Regional Awards at a ceremony held in Calgary Saturday evening.
For television, Global Edmonton received three awards: the Bert Cannings Award for Best Newscast, the Ron Laidlaw Award for Continuing Coverage and the Sam Ross Award for Editorial/Commentary.
The Best Newscast and Continuing Coverage awards were for coverage of the Fort McMurray wildfire.
Bert Cannings Award – Best Newscast (Large Market): Fort McMurray wildfire
Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage: Fort McMurray wildfire
Sam Ross Award – Editorial / Commentary: Life School
Bob Layton was given the Sam Ross Award for his Sept. 23, 2016 editorial in which he looked at the separation of elderly Alberta couples, including how he would feel if he was separated from his wife.
Watch Bob Layton’s editorial below:
For digital news, Global Edmonton received the Charlie Edwards Award for Spot News, the Digital Media Award (Large Market) and the Ron Laidlaw Award for Continuing Coverage.
The Charlie Edwards Award and Ron Laidlaw Award were given for Global Edmonton’s online coverage of the Fort McMurray wildfire.
Charlie Edwards Award – Spot News: Fort McMurray wildfire
Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage: Fort McMurray wildfire
In May 2016, wildfires forced about 80,000 residents of the Fort McMurray area to flee their homes. The blaze destroyed over 2,400 homes and other buildings and became one of the worst natural disasters in Canadian history. It was also the most expensive disaster in the country’s history for insurance providers. Global News provided extensive coverage of the state of emergency and its aftermath as the community, in the heart of Alberta’s oilsands, continues to rebuild to this day.
Read some of the stories below:
All of Fort McMurray evacuated as wildfire intensifies
Fort McMurray wildfire: Residents take to social media as situation intensifies
Fort McMurray wildfire: Where to go if you’ve been evacuated
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Powerful video captures resident’s escape from Fort McMurray wildfire -
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Rachel Notley says province not planning to declare a state of emergency yet over Fort Mac fires -
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‘We are here, we are strong: regional fire chief gives emotional update on Fort McMurray wildfire -
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Fort McMurray wildfires expected to be worse today then they were Tuesday: officials -
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Fort McMurray wildfire: How Canadians can help -
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Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees arrive in Lac La Biche -
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PM Trudeau explains how Canadians across the country can help people in Fort McMurray -
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Fort McMurray wildfire: Albertans offering food, shelter to residents fleeing fire -
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Mulcair: Fort McMurray will need ‘a lot of help’ in cleanup efforts -
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Fort McMurray wildfire: Emergency crews search fire zone, no casualties found -
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Edmonton evacuation centre opens to Fort McMurray residents -
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Notley: Fort McMurray evacuation larger than Slave Lake in 2011 -
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Wood Buffalo municipality spokesperson: Fort McMurray is comparable to a war zone -
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Prime Minister Trudeau pledges ‘total support’ of federal government to combat Fort McMurray wildfire -
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Fort McMurray fire update: Blazing heat, strong wind expected to hinder emergency crews -
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Massive wildfire in Fort McMurray prompts largest fire evacuation in Alberta’s history -
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Fort McMurray wildfire: Video captures audio of emergency crews struggling to contain blaze -
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Abandoned vehicles, houses on fire line routes out of Fort McMurray -
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Fort McMurray residents battle thick smoke during evacuation -
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Fires spread too quickly forcing Fort McMurray evacuation
Digital Media Award (Large Market): Family Matters
The Digital Media Award was given to Global Edmonton for its Family Matters segment. In 2016, Global Edmonton launched the parenting segment to look at everything from sex ed to screen time and picky eating.
Read about some of the stories below:
Family Matters: an update on stories that resonated with you
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