HALIFAX- Global News has been named a five-time finalist for the Atlantic RTDNA awards including best newscast, creative use of video and digital media award.
Three of the five awards Global News has received nominations for are for the coverage of the Moncton Shooting tragedy. The Moncton coverage gained nominations for the Ron Laidlaw Award for continuing coverage, the Charlie Edwards Award for spot news reporting and has won the digital media award.
Global News’ coverage of the Moncton shootings began on June 4, when a heavily armed gunman shot and killed three Mounties, Const. Dave Ross, Const. Fabrice Gevaudan and Const. Douglas Larche, and injured two others in Moncton, the Global news team was there to report on the ongoing man hunt.
Global Halifax reporters Ben Macdonald, Natasha Pace and camera operator Cory McGraw drove through the night to be on scene with Global Moncton’s Shelley Steeves, Brion Robinson and Steve Fiander.
Along with the morning news team they reported live as events unfolded and the city remained on lockdown, often finding themselves behind the lines as the situation changed. The team reached out to community members for their initial reactions to the tragedy, all while keeping a close eye on the developing situation and investigation.
The Global team worked tirelessly on the story covering everything from the initial attack and lockdown, to the arrest of the gunman and the funeral for the three fallen RCMP officers. In the months that followed they continued to closely monitor the story. They reported live from the trial as Bourque, 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without parole eligibility for 75 years.
They handled the story with sensitivity and compassion, presenting a complete story while building trust within the community, the RCMP and those close to both the victims and gunman.
Shelley Steeves had two exclusive interviews during the ordeal, first with the family of a young boy whose life was saved 6 years earlier by Constable Larche, and another with a close friend of the gunman’s family.
The team approached the story from all angles, looking at police preparedness, the community impact and the lives of both the victims and the gunman.
During their minute to minute coverage of the tragedy the Global news team’s exhaustive efforts were proven as they continually provided live updates and social media reports which were answered with great appreciation from not only the community, but also the country.
Global News is also nominated for the Hugh Haughland Award, for creative use of video for a three part series shot by Cory McGraw and reported by Natasha Pace.
In this three part series, Global’s Natasha Pace and Cory McGraw followed three candidates through their rigorous training at the Nova Scotia Fire School. Pace and McGraw were there from the first day of training to the last, watching as these hopefuls completed the intensive 11 week program.
Part 1: Firefighter hopefuls get 16-week training course at Waverley school
The story highlighted their strict training regime, the struggle to increase the number of women firefighters and the difficult physical demands required to complete the program such as the ability to break through walls and floor boards, as well as perform vehicle extraction all in addition to learning to fight fires.
Part 2: Nova Scotia firefighting students get a crash course in forcibly entry
The series focused on the need for more firefighters but the lack of employment by the province. It was well rounded following three very different candidates on their journey’s throughout the course. The stories were visually interesting and took the viewer through each phase of the program using exciting snap shots of the strict training of the candidates.
Part 3: Nova Scotia firefighting students have mettle tested on 24-hour shift
Finally, Global News’ June 5, 2014 newscast is nominated for the Bert Canning award for best TV newscast.
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