Global Halifax and Global New Brunswick have been named as finalists in seven awards in this year’s RTDNA Awards in the east region.
The annual awards, which are presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association, recognize excellence in electronic journalism.
Online web producer Alexander Quon’s series of stories on the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) data breach is a finalist for the Ron Laidlaw Award, which recognizes excellence in continuing coverage in the digital category.
Quon’s reporting traced the government’s first steps as its website was taken down, pushing the government to admit it had underestimated how many people were affected by the breach and holding government officials accountable on when they would bring the website back online. The in-depth storytelling featured updates on the breach and analysis from experts.
WATCH: N.S. has yet to decide on new contract with company in charge of breached FOIPOP portal
Digital broadcast journalist Alexa MacLean’s coverage of the opioid crisis in Nova Scotia is also a finalist for the Ron Laidlaw Award in the television category.
For the last three years, MacLean has covered the growing opioid crisis in the province and has followed the story by examining the impact of addiction in rural Nova Scotia, investigating counterfeit Xanax containing fentanyl and taking a look at steps the province has taken to protect its citizens.
WATCH: Global News coverage of Nova Scotia’s opioid crisis
Meanwhile, Global New Brunswick’s online election coverage has been named a finalist for the Gord Sinclair Award, which recognizes live special events, and the Dejero Award for Best Technical Innovation.
The New Brunswick crew was able to execute multiple live remotes on the provincial election night without using a traditional satellite as part of a special hybrid online-broadcast production.
Global Halifax’s coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Swissair 111 crash is a finalist in the Original/Enterprise Award in the multiplatform category.
The anniversary coverage featured in-depth interviews with family members, first responders, journalists who covered the tragedy and key players in the investigation. Global News also carried a livestream of the anniversary ceremony held in Bayswater on Sept 2., 2018 on our website and Facebook page.
WATCH: Global News coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Swissair 111 crash
Digital broadcast journalist Jeremy Keefe’s and Global National reporter Ross Lord’s series on long-term care in Nova Scotia is a finalist in the Adrienne Clarkson Award, which honours diversity in television reporting. The three-part series profiled people who were so concerned about the state of long-term care for young people with disabilities that they decided to share their stories.
Interviewees included a mother with multiple sclerosis (MS) who provides care to her adult daughter with disabilities, an advocate with MS who will enter a care home in the coming years and a woman with disabilities who’s been living in a care facility for many years despite only being in her 40s. Their shared call for housing to suit their needs — rather than being warehoused with the elderly — was an eye-opener for our audiences.
WATCH: Global News coverage of long-term care for people with disabilities
And Global New Brunswick digital broadcast journalist Shelley Steeves’ story about a young basketball player is a finalist for the Dave Rogers Award, which recognizes short features in small/medium markets in the television category.
This story first came to our attention from a Facebook post by a man in Moncton. The longtime volunteer with a local high school basketball tournament posted about the most memorable moment he had witnessed in his 31 years working with the organization: the moment a player with the Bernice MacNaughton High School basketball team gave up his jersey to allow the team’s manager — a boy with cerebral palsy — to play in the big game.
WATCH: N.B. teen with cerebral palsy shines in high school basketball game
The winners will be announced at the regional awards ceremony on March 30 in Dartmouth.