The NMAF is pleased to announce the Call for Entries for the 2019 Digital Publishing Awards, honouring the best of the Canadian digital publishing industry. Digital publishers and creators will be recognized in 23 different categories, with awards for individual creators and editorial teams. Submissions will be accepted starting January 2, 2019, and the deadline is February 1, 2019 at midnight ET.
Writers, photographers, videographers, and other content creators whose work appeared in a Canadian digital publication in 2018 can submit to the DPA individual categories. Awards for individual creators include a cash prize of $500.
2019 Categories
Freelancer Support Fund
Freelance creators can submit their first two DPA entries at a 50% discount thanks to our Freelancer Support Fund.
Rules and Judging
Please see the DPA Rules for a complete guide to eligible content and publications. Note that to be eligible for the DPAs, a digital publication must have a permanent editorial staff in Canada, and be published in either English, French, or both languages. Publications do not need to be exclusively digital to be eligible.
For a complete description of judging procedures, please see the DPA Judging Process.
Submissions and Deadline
Submissions can be made online at submissions.digitalpublishingawards.ca. Submit before Friday,January 25, 2019 to be eligible for the Early Bird fee of $100. The final deadline for DPA submissions is Friday, January 31, 2019.
From everyone at the National Media Awards Foundation, have a warm, happy, and healthy holiday season. Our office will be closed on December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st, and the call for entries for the 2019 Digital Publishing Awards will open on January 2nd. The early-bird deadline is January 25, 2019, and the final online submissions deadline is January 31, 2019. May the new year greet you with many great stories waiting to be read!
At the National Media Awards Foundation, we’re getting ready to honour the best in journalism, at the 4th annual Digital Publishing Awards and the 42nd National Magazine Awards. We’re currently accepting nominations for individuals to serve on the juries, and join the great tradition of recognizing achievement by the creators of Canadian magazines and digital publications.
Ideal candidates should fulfill one or more of the following criteria:
Internationally renowned journalist, editor, designer or other expert with an interest in supporting the NMAF fulfill its mission;
Editor, art director, publisher, web editor, developer or other staff member (past or present) of a Canadian digital publication or magazine, whether or not your publication participates in the National Magazine Awards or Digital Publishing Awards;
Freelance or staff writer, illustrator, photographer or digital creator, where a significant portion of your work is in Canadian publications (especially if you have been nominated for or won a National Magazine Award or Digital Publishing Award yourself);
Journalist (print, broadcast, digital) with expertise in a particular field represented by one or more NMA or DPA categories (such as photojournalism, service, arts & culture, fiction, etc);
Academic or industry leader with expertise in a particular field;
Professionals and leadersfrom related cultural sectors, including the visual arts (film and television), the literary arts (book writing & publishing) and the performing arts (theatre, music);
Bilingual: Not all of our judges need be bilingual, but all awards juries will have at least one bilingual member.
The NMAF welcomes applications from individuals who bring different industry perspectives – from recognized leaders to celebrated emerging talents. We also aim for the judging panels to reflect our country’s diverse Indigenous, cultural, and regional communities.
Judging will take place during February and March 2019. Contact us at info@digitalpublishingawards.ca for more information or to nominate someone to the jury.
The NMAF is a bilingual, not-for-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to foster, recognize and promote editorial excellence in Canadian publications. Submissions will open in January for awards honouring the best in digital publishing in 2018. The 4th annual Digital Publishing Awards soiree will be held in the spring of 2019.
The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is pleased to welcome a new president to its Board of Directors. Julie Cailliau, associate publisher and editor-in-chief of Quebec’s Les Affaires, was elected for a two-year term. She replaces Nino DiCara, who served as president from 2016-2018 and who will remain on the board.
Julie Cailliau noted:
“These past few years, the NMAF has thrived in challenging times, expanding its focus to include dedicated digital publishing awards, all the while remaining committed to its flagship program. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and our stakeholders to help the NMAF build on its success and pursue its vital mission for our industry. Recognizing excellence in journalism and visual creation, and promoting the work of Canadian creators and publications, is more crucial than ever in the current media landscape. The NMAF and the industry alike have an opportunity to adapt and rise, and I’m eager to help guide our organization forward.”
The NMAF has also formally approved its board executive and new directors for 2018-2019.
Recently elected to serve on the NMAF Board of Directors are:Elamin Abdelmahmoud,editor, social media, and news curation at Buzzfeed Canada; Anna Minzhulina,freelance art director and designer; and Soneeka Patel,strategic account manager, broadcast, at Google Canada.
The NMAF would also like to honour its outgoing board members and thank them for their service to the Canadian magazine industry:
Joyce Byrne, publisher of Avenue Calgary, and past president of the NMAF, who has served on the Board of Directors since 2010.
Dan McPhee, head of media platforms at Google Canada, who served two years on the Board of Directors.
For a complete list of the NMAF Board of Directors please visit magazine-awards.com.
The 42nd annual National Magazine Awards
Submissions for the 42nd annual National Magazine Awards will be accepted starting in December 2018. Updated submissions information (categories, guidelines, etc.) will be posted to the NMAF website in the fall. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on announcements.
The National Media Awards Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Digital Publishing Awards. This awards season saw 79 Canadian digital publications enter their best work from 2017, for consideration in 23 awards categories. 78 dedicated judges carefully evaluated the entries, deliberated upon the finalists, and on May 29th, the Gold and Silver winners were announced at the annual DPA Soirée, hosted by Adrian Lee.
20 different digital publications took home Gold and Silver medals. From them, four (HuffPost Québec, ICI Radio-Canada Première, The Deep and The Sprawl) were first-time winners.
Gold winning publications included 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. In most categories, the Digital Publishing Awards Gold winners received a $500 cheque alongside their award.
Taking home Silver medals were Air Canada enRoute, BuzzFeed Canada, CBC Original Podcasts, Discourse Media, Hazlitt, National Observer, Options politiques, Today’s Parent, Toronto Life, and VICE.
“Congratulations to all the winners of the third annual Digital Publishing Awards. Your success highlights not just your creativity and excellence in journalism, but your mastery of digital platforms to tell compelling stories. It is a reminder of the vast pool of talented creators, and publishers, in Canada’s digital media industry. We’re thrilled to recognize your wonderful work through the DPA program.” — Nino Di Cara, NMAF President
GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL PUBLISHING
The 2018 award for General Excellence in Digital Publishing was presented in three divisions: small, medium, and large publications.
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The Deep won the Gold Medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications. “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!
Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications was awarded to Fjord Review and National Observer.
Hakai Magazine received the Gold medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Medium Publications. “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 for “Here Be Tiny Dragons (and Other Micro Beasts).”
Honourable Mention General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Medium Publications was given to Passport and Today’s Parent.
The winner of the General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publication award went to The Globe and Mail. The jury had this to say: “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.”
Le Devoir and Winnipeg Free Press received Honourable Mention in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.
EMERGING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Elizabeth Melito, CBC News
Elizabeth Melito of CBC News was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Emerging Excellence Award. The Emerging Excellence Award jury was “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.”
DIGITAL PUBLISHING LEADERSHIP AWARD
Brodie Fenlon, CBC News
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.
WINNERS HIGHLIGHTS
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.
Visit live.digitalpublishingawards.ca to view the winners in all 23 categories. Follow the Digital Publishing Awards on Twitter @DPAwards and #DPA18.
Emerging Excellence Award
Elizabeth Melito, CBC News
Digital Publishing Leadership Award
Brodie Fenlon, CBC News
General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small The Deep
General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Medium Hakai Magazine
General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large The Globe and Mail
Best Digital Editorial Package
GOLD: Unfounded, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2017, Air Canada enRoute
Best Blog or Online-Only Column
GOLD: Lauren McKeon, TVO.org
SILVER: Ici et ailleurs: Chronique d’Alain Noël, Options politiques
Best News Coverage: Small Newsroom
GOLD : The Sprawl: 2017 Election Edition, The Sprawl
SILVER: Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline in Canada, National Observer
Best News Coverage
GOLD: Unfounded, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Fire Watch: B.C. Wildfire Coverage, Global News (globalnews.ca)
Best Feature Article: Short
GOLD: Aleppo Mayor, written by Cathal Kelly, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: This Is How Your Hyperpartisan Political News Gets made, written by Craig Silverman, BuzzFeed Canada
Best Feature Article: Long
GOLD: The Making of Joseph Boyden, written by Eric Andrew-Gee, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Death of a Modern Wolf, written by J.B. MacKinnon, Hakai Magazine
Fiction
GOLD: Young Tomorrow, written by Sean Michaels, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Half-Pipe, written by Zoe Whittall, Hazlitt
Best Personal Essay
GOLD: Black on Bay Street, written by Hadiya Roderique, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Kids of addiction, written by Trevor Jang, Discourse Media
Best Arts & Culture Story
GOLD: A Road Trip with Christopher Pratt, written by Mireille Egan, Canadian Art
SILVER: Kent Monkman: The modern touch of an old master, written by Dakshana Bascaramurty, The Globe and Mail
Best Science and Technology Story
GOLD: Understanding the quantum computing revolution, written by Ivan Semeniuk, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Watts in the Water, written by Bruce Grierson, Hakai Magazine
Best Service Feature: Lifestyle
GOLD: Le Montréal oublié, written by Daphnée Hacker-B., HuffPost Québec
SILVER: Where to Eat Now, written by Mark Pupo, Toronto Life
Best Service Feature: Family & Health
GOLD: How do I talk to my five-year-old about white supremacy?, written by Kalli Anderson, The Walrus
SILVER: Fortunate Son, written by Erin Anderssen, The Globe and Mail
Best Online Video: Short
GOLD: How close are we to the end of the world? Check the Doomsday Clock, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2017 – Battuto, Air Canada enRoute
Best Online Video: Feature
GOLD: Here Be Tiny Dragons (and Other Micro Beasts), Hakai Magazine
SILVER: The ultimate gift: How two dads finally got their son, Today’s Parent
Best Online Video: Mini-Doc
GOLD: Dancing Towards the Light, CBC News
SILVER, Age of Consent, VICE
Best Podcast & Audio Storytelling
GOLD: Disparue(s), ICI Radio-Canada Première
SILVER: Someone Knows Something – Dee & Moore, CBC Original Podcasts
Best Digital Design
GOLD: Census 2016, CBC News
SILVER: The Globe and Mail, The Globe and Mail
Best Photo Storytelling
GOLD: Canada through the lens of Syrian refugees, The Globe and Mail
SILVER: Single Mothers of Afghanistan, The Globe and Mail
Best Social Storytelling
GOLD: Canada’s #ToxicSecret, Global News (globalnews.ca)
SILVER: Coming to Canada: The Immigration and Refugee System, CBC News
Best Digital Initiative
GOLD: A City Destroyed: Experience the Halifax Explosion, CBC News
SILVER: Weigh Anchor, The Globe and Mail
The NMAF offers its sincere thanks to the highly skilled professionals who generously contributed their time and expertise as judges of the Digital Publishing Awards competition.
At the National Media Awards Foundation, we’re getting ready to honour the best in journalism, at the 4th annual 
The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is pleased to welcome a new president to its Board of Directors. Julie Cailliau, associate publisher and editor-in-chief of Quebec’s Les Affaires, was elected for a two-year term. She replaces Nino DiCara, who served as president from 2016-2018 and who will remain on the board.
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.
