Editor’s note: This article has been updated with an additional nomination for Global Calgary after the Television Adrienne Clarkson Award submission was erroneously included in the finalist list for the Central Region instead of the Prairie Region.
Global Calgary has been nominated for 11 Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Awards in the Prairie region.
RTDNA Canada Awards honour the best journalists, programs, stations and news gathering organizations in radio, television and digital platforms.
Below are the 11 nominations for Global Calgary’s 2016 content, with three in the digital category and eight in the television category.
Digital category:
Adrienne Clarkson Award – Diversity: Birth gender bathroom controversy
Our stories describe the controversy surrounding a “bathroom of your birth gender” sign in an Alberta bar and the subsequent fallout for its staff.
The online coverage, written by Erika Tucker, who worked closely with broadcast reporters Jill Croteau and Quinn Campbell, reached more than 10,500,000 people and earned 4,000 shares, comments, likes and other interactions.
Our story also earned a response from Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, who said the government believes “no Albertan should be discriminated against based on their gender identity or gender expression” and encouraged anyone who feels their rights have been violated to contact the Alberta Human Rights Commission to file a complaint.
READ THE STORIES HERE: Alberta bar’s ‘you must use bathroom of your birth gender’ sign spurs outrage
Alberta bouncer decries ‘hateful bigot’ label in birth gender bathroom controversy
Charlie Edwards Award – Spot News: Matthew de Grood NCR verdict
READ THE STORY HERE: Matthew de Grood found not criminally responsible in Brentwood murders
Our coverage of the verdict in the trial of Matthew de Grood, found not criminally responsible in Calgary’s largest multiple-murder, included a live blog from reporter Nancy Hixt, who worked closely with online reporter Erika Tucker to provide continuous updates in our online article, reaching more than 11 million people and earning over 1,200 interactions.
Our digital coverage included thorough video interviews from outside the court house, including from the victim’s families, the father of the young man found NCR and lawyers.
We also included court documents in our online story: excerpts from the ruling as well as the letter signed by de Grood presented in court—the first time the public has heard from the young man.
Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage: Remembering the Brentwood 5
Visit our special tag page to watch the extra video content and read the full series here
Remembering the Brentwood 5 resonated strongly on social media, with a combined reach of over 15 million people and earning over 1,000 interactions.
Reporter Jill Croteau earned the trust of the five victims’ families, bringing them together to speak about their lives since losing their children in an emotional group interview. Photographer Nate Luit, who spent time sensitively shooting these interviews, also edited complimentary video to highlight special memories and touching personal stories.
This emotional series was timed to publish the same week the trial of the man accused of the murders began. It was the families’ hope that their kids’ memories would take front and centre and never be forgotten.
Throughout the series and the days following, Global Calgary heard from countless people who were grateful for the coverage that helped bring closure to the city’s collective grief. Even the first responders, police and lawyers involved in this case reached out to express their appreciation for the series – saying it allowed them to truly get a sense of who these incredible kids were.
Television category:
Adrienne Clarkson Award – Diversity: Mission Madagascar
Armed with just a camera, microphone and an assignment to tell stories that resonated with local audiences, reporter Jayme Doll travelled to the African island nation of Madagascar to see how Calgarians helped people cope and cure disease, illness and infection.
Doll spent weeks witnessing surgeries being performed in crumbling hospitals with outdated instruments and filthy conditions, bunking on the Mercy Ship, the world’s largest floating hospital.
In her three-part series, Doll profiled a Calgary woman on a personal mission to teach medical staff across Madagascar to properly sterilize instruments, surgery rooms and hospital wards. She also brought viewers the story of volunteers who used vacation time to travel to perform surgeries on burn victims, cleft palates and large debilitating tumours with a mission to save and improve lives.
Bert Cannings Award – Best Newscast (Large Market): Amber Alert – The Search for Taliyah
Charlie Edwards Award – Spot News: Amber Alert – The Search for Taliyah
Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage: Sara & Taliyah – A Mother and Daughter Tragedy
When the Amber Alert was issued to find five-year-old Taliyah Marsman, Calgarians knew the situation was urgent, as her mother had been found dead.
Global covered the story on all platforms from the moment the Amber Alert was issued to the grim day Taliyah’s body was found in a rural area east of Calgary. Team coverage was provided around the clock on each platform to ensure our viewers were up to date on the various developments.
Global delivered a series of exclusive interviews with Taliyah’s father, along with her mother’s parents. Reporter Nancy Hixt maintains a strong relationship with family members as they wait for the trial of the suspect to begin.
A selection of five of our most-viewed online stories had a total of 2,304,880 page views, Facebook reach of 15,303,233, Twitter reach of 3,188,192.
READ MORE: Calgary police release security footage in search for Taliyah Marsman, rule mother’s death a homicide
READ MORE: Suspect in Taliyah’s disappearance uncooperative, police continue search
READ MORE: Body of Taliyah Marsman found
READ MORE: Edward Downey charged with first-degree murder
READ MORE: Who is Edward Downey? Man charged with first degree murder in Taliyah Marsman’s death
Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Large Market): Syrian Farmers
Gil Tucker’s “Syrian Farmer” tells the story of one man and his family who came to Canada to start a new life. It shows the determination and resilience of the tens of thousands of refugees who have come here in recent years and the contributions they make as they arrive.
This story was shot with a unique point of view to show the family as they harvested with accompanying sounds of shovels digging and the conversations from the family as they pick their crops. It was shot during the time when Calgary was seeing a large number of refugees enter the city with many stories focusing on the struggles and adversity they faced.
Global’s story highlighted a more positive view of the city’s new arrivals and hopefully a lasting success story.
Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature (Large Market): Remembering the Brentwood 5
See above for description and videos from our broadcast
Hugh Haugland Award – Creative Use of Video: Rio Badminton
Martin Giuffre’s road to the Olympics is brought to life in this spectacularly visual Gil Tucker story.
Giuffre’s journey to becoming one of Canada’s top badminton players is filled with interesting twists and turns and these are all captured in a perfect blend of editorial and visual storytelling.
Faced with difficult shooting and lighting conditions in the large nondescript Glencoe Club Badminton Gym, this item is all about the angles.
“I tried my best to get as many different angles as possible to add interest and bring people into the game instead of feeling like you were watching it from the outside like a spectator,” photographer Pat Carroll said.
Sports Feature Reporting Award (Large Market): The Doug Jarvis Story
Doug Jarvis was born with a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi Syndrome, causing an insatiable appetite, low muscle tone and a learning disability. But it didn’t stop Doug from participating in every sport he could.
Global’s Brendan Parker told the story of his hard work, positivity and popularity among his teammates, culminating in his emotional first try on the rugby pitch at Forest Lawn High School.
The video of Doug’s try was viewed close to half a million times. And Doug’s mother, Rolene, has since received numerous messages from other parents amazed by Doug’s progress, and asking how they can do the same for children who also suffer from Prader-Willi Syndrome.
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