The National Magazine Awards Foundation (NMAF) is excited to announce a new identity as Canada’s leading not-for-profit organization focused on Celebrating Canadian Creators: the National Media Awards Foundation.
Recognizing that creators are telling the most important stories of our time on a variety of platforms and media, that magazine publishers continue to innovate and diversify the forms and functions of their publications, and that digital publishers are exploring the ever-expanding frontiers in journalism, the new National Media Awards Foundation is a dynamic organization that reflects the exciting future of Canadian storytelling.
“As a not-for-profit, charitable organization, the NMAF is one of the most trusted brands in Canadian media, and we will continue that tradition of excellence by working with our stakeholders, industry partners, and creators themselves to ensure that our programs represent the incredible achievements in Canadian media. At the NMAF, our goals are to recognize outstanding creative work, to acknowledge and celebrate diversity in Canada and in the forms of Canadian media, and to inspire others to pursue creativity and excellence in the stories they tell.” —Nino Di Cara, President, National Media Awards Foundation
With a reputation for facilitating rigorous, transparent, and bilingual awards programs in which content creators are recognized and rewarded for outstanding achievement in journalism, writing, visual art, design and digital media, the National Media Awards Foundation is proud to serve, support, and amplify the work of Canadian creators.
Look for our new brand identity this fall as we work with our stakeholders to recognize and celebrate excellence in the year ahead at the 41st annual National Magazine Awards and the 3rd annual Digital Publishing Awards.
About the National Magazine Awards The National Magazine Awards, established in 1977, recognize outstanding achievement in Canadian magazine writing, visual art, and design. This past year, 197 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—entered the best of their editorial and design to the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards, submitting the work of more than 2000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators. The NMAF’s 112 volunteer judges nominated a total of 202 submissions from 75 different Canadian magazines for awards in 25 written, visual, integrated and special categories.
Nearly 300 members of the Canadian magazine industry—publishers, editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, circulators and more—joined esteemed sponsors and other guests at the Arcadian Court for the40th anniversary National Magazine Awardsgala.
About the Digital Publishing Awards The Digital Publishing Awards, established in 2015, promote and reward the achievements of those who create digital publishing content in Canada—the writers and editors, designers and developers, video and podcast producers, photographers and illustrators, and many others. The DPA program recognizes, celebrates and promotes to a national audience the innovative publishing teams that produce digital content in Canadian media.
This past year, the Digital Publishing Awards expanded from 14 to 21 categories to better reflect the growth, innovation, and diversity in Canadian digital publishing content and creation. A total of 75 Canadian digital publications, English and French, participated in the DPAs, submitting the best of their digital content, design and innovation from the past year for consideration in 21 awards categories. 67 individuals volunteered their time, their expertise, and their passion for digital publishing in serving as judges for this year’s awards. They nominated 85 entries from 34 different digital publications for this year’s awards.
Visit live.digitalpublishingawards.cato view the nominees and winners in all 21 categories of the 2017 Digital Publishing Awards.
About the NMAF A charitable foundation, the NMAF’s mandate is to recognize and promote excellence in content creation of Canadian print and digital publications through an annual program of awards and national publicity efforts.The Foundation produces two distinct and bilingual award programs: the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. Throughout the year, the Foundation undertakes various group marketing initiatives and professional development events.
Get in touch with us and find out how we can work with you to Celebrate Canadian Creators.
There were 16 different publications that won Digital Publishing Awards this year. Among them, 10 publications received their first-ever DPA.
This year, a total of 75 different Canadian publications participated in the Digital Publishing Awards, submitting their best work for consideration in 21 categories. Among them, 34 publications were nominated. Out of those 34, the following 16 publications prevailed, winning Gold or Silver awards.
Take a look at this year’s Digital Publishing Award winning publications:
Canadian Art Editorial Mandate: In print and online, Canadian Art’s foremost mandate is to cover art accessibly and intelligently, without depending on the languages and approaches of the academy or the market. We believe passionately in inclusivity. Canada is a diverse country with diverse artistic practices happening inside and outside gallery walls.
Digital Publishing Awards: Gold – General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications canadianart.ca
“The originality and the creativity of the article subjects is striking,” said the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Making a magazine that’s both dense and approachable is what every editor hopes to achieve, and Canadian Art has succeeded where a lot of us fall short.” – General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications Jury
Canadian Press Editorial Mandate: The Canadian Press is Canada’s most trusted news source, delivering comprehensive, accurate, impartial and balanced news reporting from Canada and around the world. More than 200 of our journalists produce award-winning stories, photos, graphics, audio and video, delivered round the clock and in real time to hundreds of news outlets, government agencies and private firms. We have been keeping Canadians informed and telling people the story of their country for almost a century.
CBC News Editorial Mandate: As Canada’s national public broadcaster, we are here to serve our Canadian audience and help them understand the news events that shake and shape their world. We are rooted in every region of the country and strive to reach as many Canadians as possible, providing them with information when and how they want it. We reflect the country and regions back to itself. We serve the public’s interest and reflect its diversity, while remaining independent, responsible and be accountable. We value accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and integrity.
Digital Publishing Awards: Gold – General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications According to the jury: “CBC News represents a high-water mark for digital publishing in Canada. Outstanding writing is backed up with photography, video and interactive assets across a breath of topics that matter to Canadians. The team at CBC News continues a great tradition of producing a site that not only leads its peers in Canada but stands comfortably with any news organization in the world.” Gold – Best News Coverage: Local & Provincial,The Frontline of Fentanyl According to the jury: “The Frontline of Fentanyl, as a digital journalism project, successfully told the ongoing story of a serious crisis impacting BC communities through the use of video, photos, links, audio content – even a spreadsheet with useful, current, information on drug rehab facilities and available treatment programs. The investigative journalism was impressive, but what was most impressive was the usefulness of the digital content – a solid example of how CBC BC’s use of digital journalism not only ‘told the story,’ but served its community through impactful storytelling that will benefit Canadians as a whole – for years to come.” Gold – Best Service Feature: Family, Health & Careers,Saving Sid Gold – Best Online Video: Short,How the powerful opioid fentanyl kills: A CBC News explainer
According to the jury: “This short video had a true documentary feel from beginning to end, where all elements were woven together with utmost success — including the music, graphics, text, overall style and even the fades. It was informative and easy to digest.”
Silver – Best Blog or Column,Presidential Poll Tracker According to the jury: “With its “Poll Tracker”, the CBC took full advantage of digital tools and data research to help its readers understand the American presidential election in many ways, coming from many angles. Éric Grenier’s sober analysis and understated tone provided excellent insights and contextual details to help understand the final result.” Silver – Best Podcast,Missing & Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams Silver – Best Digital Design,U.S. election: Live results
According to the Best Arts & Culture Story Jury: “Providing a long view on a platform known for short videos, Navneet Alang crafts a vital dialogue about the loss of intimacy and recognition that results from mainstream exposure.”
Discourse Media Editorial Mandate: Discourse produces investigations, analysis and data journalism focused on matters of public importance: gender, environment, education, urban development, the economy, politics, Indigenous issues and more. We look for gaps in reporting and pursue stories that have potential for impact.
Digital Publishing Awards: Silver – Best Editorial Package Power Struggle
“When it comes to digital content, I try to look for things that are able to tell a story beyond text and images; elements that take advantage of the screens we use. Finding and showing different angles to a story, whether it’s through live, dynamic data, video, maps, etc. are what earn “Power Struggle” a top spot in this category.” – Best Digital Editorial Package Jury
Digital Publishing Awards: Silver – Best Feature Article: Long Crocodiles Rising
“Shanna Baker’s Crocodile Rising is a beautifully written piece filled with colourful characters and one very deadly beast. Baker manages to weave the complexities of trying to protect a man eater facing the pressures of modern society and its economy into a fascinating nature tale.” – Best Feature Article: Long Jury Silver – Best Online Video: Feature The Right To Roam https://player.vimeo.com/video/155595143?color=28879b&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Hakai Magazine also received Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications, Best Feature Article: Long and Best Online Video: Mini-Doc.
Digital Publishing Awards: Gold – Best Online Video: Mini-Doc Salute
“Salute was a beautiful display of compelling storytelling. Centred around dynamic Canadian veterans, it was skillfully filmed and edited, keeping you captivated from beginning to end.” – Best Online Video: Mini-Doc Jury
HuffPost Canada also received Honourable Mention in Best Social Storytelling, Best Online Video: Feature and Best Blog or Column. Kenny Yum also won the Digital Publishing Leadership Award.
“This was truly an innovative way to tell a news story. It pulled us in by telling you your own story, while also staying focused on the bigger picture. The piece was written with voice and was a truly memorable experience.” – Best Digital Initiative Jury
From the Best Blog or Column Jury: “Tim Caulfield’s “The Cure” is an enticing combination of blog and column—it has a strong voice, compelling subject, forceful convictions, and reliable intelligence. He comes at his subject from a unique angle and meets his reader on a high plane.”
“Tim Caulfield’s column takes on psuedosicence with humour and relevant facts, he is myth-busting at the higher level. At a time when anti-intellectualism is at a height, we need more writers like Tim Caulfield who can present scientific evidence in an interesting and clear way and debunk the pseudoscience that can be at best wasteful, and at most dangerous.”
Policy Options also received Honourable Mention in Best Blog or Column.
Ryerson Review of Journalism Editorial Mandate: The Ryerson Review of Journalism (RRJ) is Canada’s watchdog on the watchdogs. Founded in 1984 by the late Don Obe, former chair of the Ryerson School of Journalism, this award-winning magazine is produced by graduate and undergraduate students in their final year with the support of faculty and industry professionals. Obe believed that the RRJ’s job was to probe the quality of journalism in Canada. After nearly three decades, we’re still on assignment.
Digital Publishing Award: Gold – Best Digital Initiative Why Diversity
Ryerson Review of Journalism‘s first online, interactive feature, #WhyDiversity, is an in-depth interactive discussion about the problems with diversity in the journalism industry – the long-standing excuses for the lack of change, the failures of the style guides we use for reporting on non-white communities and the hate mail that has become an unwritten tradition for reporters of diverse issues or backgrounds.
According to the jury: “This video tied in well with a very specific audience and imparted a lot of information in a light-hearted, playful manner. The illustrations were well-done and the crayon-like colouring again fit with the viewership in a friendly way to provide the (often awkward) information. Great editing and use of audio/visuals from start to finish.”
Today’s Parent received Honourable Mention in Best Service Feature: Lifestyle.
Digital Publishing Awards: Gold – Best Digital Editorial Package, The Trafficked According to the Jury: “This story stayed with me for a while after consumption. Above the other entries, this piece was very effective at drawing me in. The power of the web is the user being able to choose what they read next, but when there are too many choices, it’s a burden on the experience. This package is a collection of stories, but there was a strong guidance, which was compelling.”
Gold – Best Feature Article: Short,Crichton Farm Gold – Best Feature Article: Long,Graffiti Kids According to the jury: “Mark MacKinnon’s Graffiti Kids was a standout in a field of standouts, making good use of classic reporting skills and digital storytelling tools to reveal a fascinating story that helps showcase the global and personal impact, and the senselessness, of war.” Gold – Best Personal Essay, The Widowhood Effect Gold – Best Podcast,Colour Code Gold – Best Social Storytelling,Crichton Farm
Gold – Best Arts & Culture Story, North Exposure According to the jury: “So often work in the digital medium is experimental for the sake of it, and it’s rare that new digital forms are used in a way that’s in harmony with the content to enhance the experience for the reader in a way that goes beyond design flare. Using the choose-your-own-adventure-style storytelling that has become popular online in both fiction and role-playing games creates an intimacy in this piece by Mark Medley.” Gold – Best News Coverage: National & International, Fentanyl Crisis
Silver – Best News Coverage: National & International, What’s In Your Weed? Silver – Best News Coverage: Local & Provincial, When a Tree Falls According to the jury: “When a Tree Falls took an unusual tragedy – the death of a man by a tree branch – and dug deeper. The journalists transformed what may have generally been a ‘forgettable’ story and made it ‘memorable,’ through the use of images, graphs, digital content and even quizzes. It was beyond educational and impactful. The ongoing series served the Globe readers – and Toronto residents – by examining something that many would have considered to be a ‘freak accident,’ and concluded that, instead, this was a death that was likely preventable. The journalists’ work, overall, produced a compelling piece of digital journalism. “ Silver – Best Online Video: Mini-Doc, Growing Pains According to the jury: “Growing Pains was an excellent piece of journalism that provided viewers with a well-rounded look at how Toronto and its surrounding area have grown over the years. The incorporation of archival imagery, juxtaposed with scenes from today was tactfully edited together, along with strong interviews that kept audiences engaged.” Silver – Best Feature Article: Family, Health & Careers,The Globe 100: Best Books of the Year
The Globe and Mail received Honourable Mention in Best News Coverage: National & International, Best Feature Article: Long, Best Personal Essay, Best Online Video: Short and General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.
Digital Publishing Awards: Gold – Best Digital Design torontolife.com
Toronto Life received Honourable Mention in Best Service Feature: Lifestyle, Best Digital Initiative and General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications.
Editorial Mandate: Weddingbells.ca is where unforgettable weddings begin. The site provides unique inspiration and concrete planning information to help every Canadian woman achieve her dream wedding day. With an eye to the importance of visually-impactful content, which is paramount to brides, the site offers its readers creative decor ideas, style advice, vendor suggestions, comprehensive honeymoon itineraries and galleries of photos from the country’s most breathtaking real weddings to help each woman define her day.
The 2nd annual Digital Publishing Awards was a night to remember. To all the amazing contributors, sponsors, partners, staff and everyone else who helped to make the 2017 Digital Publishing Awards a grand success, thank you! You helped to make this year’s awards a memorable celebration of Canada’s best digital creators.
Thank you Evan Munday for hosting the awards show presentation. Your wit and charm permeated the entire room.
Special thanks to Candescent for designing and building the Digital Publishing Awards show presentation.
Many thanks to Very Good Studios for creating this year’s Digital Publishing bumper video.
A huge thank you to our judges — the 67 individuals who generously volunteered their time and lent their expertise to this year’s awards. They represent the crux of the entire awards program; without them the Digital Publishing Awards are not possible.
Thank you to our wonderful staff and our Board of Directors for their hard work and guidance.
Thank you to Steven Goetz, our event photographer for this year’s Digital Publishing Awards. Check out the 2017 DPA photo gallery on our Facebook Page.
Many thanks to all the guests who attended Thursday’s celebration. We hope that you enjoyed the evening as much as we did! [Event Photo Album]
Lastly, a huge thank you to all the participants, nominees & winners of this year’s Digital Publishing Awards. Thank you for being a part of the 2nd annual DPAs, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2018.
The award is the highest individual honour of the Digital Publishing Awards, and was the first award presented on Thursday night. Presented by HuffPost Canada colleague Andree Lau, Kenny Yum was called on-stage to accept his award, amidst enthusiastic cheers from the audience. His acceptance speech captivated the room, which was filled with many of Canada’s best digital creators.
His words resonated with the digital publishing community, and we are happy to share those remarks with you here.
Kenny Yum’s Digital Publishing Leadership Award Acceptance Speech:
“Thank you to the Digital Publishing Awards. I’m thrilled we have a way we can recognize our industry’s great work. Thank you to my colleagues, past and current, who nominated me for this honour.
My greatest success is that I get to stand behind the amazing work people like you do every day.
No matter what position you hold in digital, you know by now that it’s always moving. And that makes it all the more exciting. My advice:
Be passionate about the stories you want to tell, and be open to how you can tell them. There are so many gaps that need covering, you can fill that void.
Be open to learning something you don’t know. My challenge at the tender age of 42 is to treat every day as if I’m stepping into a new newsroom with new possibilities.
Be a leader, wherever you are. We used to look at our colleagues in the U.S. or Europe for innovations, but I know now that there is excellent work and done right here. The longer I’ve worked with editors across the globe, I realize we bring a lot to the table. Lead so they notice. Lead with confidence. And don’t say sorry.
Be mindful of the noise, and don’t succumb to it. There are those who like to talk about the future of journalism, and there is a temptation to be paralyzed by it. There are also those who are doing journalism. You are the doers. Carry on.
Be surrounded by good people. We are lucky in digital. I feel like sometimes we’re the nerds who the rest of the world just realized now we’re kinda cool. Hire these people, let their ideas shine, let their voices dictate your sked and if you’re not working at a place that doesn’t do all of the above, go find somewhere where that’s happening or make it happen where you are.
Finally, use digital as an opportunity to listen and reflect. For far too long journalists have proposed that they have all the ideas, but now there is no excuse. Listen to the reader, the viewer, the audience. Listen enough that you truly hear. Then go out there and tell more stories.”
Read more about Kenny Yum receiving the Digital Publishing Leadership Award.
For more information on how to nominate an individual for the Digital Publishing Leadership Award, please contact info@digitalpublishingawards.ca.
The NMAF presented Gold and Silver awards in 21 categories at this year’s Digital Publishing Awards Soirée, held at The Spoke Club on Thursday June 1 in Toronto’s King West district and hosted by author and illustrator Evan Munday.
GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL PUBLISHING This year the award for General Excellence in Digital Publishing was presented in two divisions: small publications & large publications.
Canadian Art won the Gold Medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications.
“The originality and the creativity of the article subjects is striking,” said the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Making a magazine that’s both dense and approachable is what every editor hopes to achieve, and Canadian Art has succeeded where a lot of us fall short.”
Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publications was awarded to Hakai Magazine, LiisBeth, National Observer, Toronto Life and YMC: Motherhood Unfiltered.
CBC News won the Gold Medal for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.
The CBC News team won 3 other Gold Medals in Best News Coverage: Local & Provincial, Best Online Video: Short and Best Service Feature: Family, Health & Careers.
“CBC News represents a high-water mark for digital publishing in Canada,” remarked the Digital Publishing Awards jury. “Outstanding writing is backed up with photography, video and interactive assets across a breadth of topics that matter to Canadians. The team at CBC News continues a great tradition of producing a site that not only leads its peers in Canada, but stands comfortably with any news organization in the world.”
Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications was awarded to The Globe and Mail.
EMERGING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Naël Shiab, L’actualité
Naël Shiab of L’actualitéwas named this year’s recipient of the Emerging Excellence Award. The award honours an individual whose early work in Canadian digital publishing shows the highest degree of craft and promise.
According to the Emerging Excellence Award jury:
“Naël Shiab is a bright light shining across the world of journalism. He combines the inquisitiveness and skepticism of a journalist with the creativity and three-dimensional thinking of a coder to create astonishing data-led work that illuminates and educates and entertains. He is the future of journalism and the more Naël Shiab’s at work, the better off we are as an informed citizenry.”
DIGITAL PUBLISHING LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Digital Publishing Leadership Award was presented to Kenny Yum, managing editor of HuffPost Canada. The award honours an individual whose career contributions to Canadian digital publishing deserve recognition and celebration and was presented on stage by HuffPost Canada colleague, Andree Lau.
“Kenny Yum is the kind of journalistic leader who represents everything that’s exciting and worthwhile in our industry. Long before digital media was a priority for most places, Kenny was already working on merging high-quality Canadian journalism with innovative formats to connect intimately with audiences. After roles at The Globe and Mail, National Post, Financial Post and CBC, Kenny helped launched HuffPost Canada six years ago. There, he’s built one of the country’s youngest, most culturally diverse newsrooms, where he challenges us to strive for excellence and innovation every day.” – Andree Lau, Managing Editor of News at HuffPost Canada
WINNERS HIGHLIGHTS 16 different publications received Digital Publishing Awards this year, including 10 publications which received their first-ever award.
The Globe and Mail’s “Crichton Farm” story won Gold in two categories: Best Feature Article: Short and Best Social Storytelling.
Toronto Life won the Gold Medal in Best Digital Design for the second year in a row.
The leading publication in this year’s Digital Publishing Awards is The Globe and Mail, winning a total of 12 awards, including 8 Gold and 4 Silver. They also received Honourable Mention in General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Large Publications.
This year, the Digital Publishing Awards expanded from 14 to 21 categories to better reflect the growth, innovation, and diversity in Canadian digital publishing content and creation. A total of 75 Canadian digital publications participated in the DPAs, submitting the best of their digital content, design and innovation from the past year for consideration in 21 awards categories. 67 individuals volunteered their time, their expertise, and their passion for digital publishing in serving as judges for this year’s awards. They nominated 85 entries from 34 different digital publications for this year’s awards.
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.
The National Magazine Awards Foundation (NMAF) is excited to announce a new identity as Canada’s leading not-for-profit organization focused on Celebrating Canadian Creators: the National Media Awards Foundation. 
Silver – Best Feature Article: Short
Editorial Mandate: Weddingbells.ca is where unforgettable weddings begin. The site provides unique inspiration and concrete planning information to help every Canadian woman achieve her dream wedding day. With an eye to the importance of visually-impactful content, which is paramount to brides, the site offers its readers creative decor ideas, style advice, vendor suggestions, comprehensive honeymoon itineraries and galleries of photos from the country’s most breathtaking real weddings to help each woman define her day.
Thank you Evan Munday for hosting the awards show presentation. Your wit and charm permeated the entire room.
The award is the highest individual honour of the Digital Publishing Awards, and was the first award presented on Thursday night. Presented by HuffPost Canada colleague Andree Lau, Kenny Yum was called on-stage to accept his award, amidst enthusiastic cheers from the audience. His acceptance speech captivated the room, which was filled with many of Canada’s best digital creators.
The Digital Publishing Leadership Award was presented to Kenny Yum, managing editor of HuffPost Canada. The award honours an individual whose career contributions to Canadian digital publishing deserve recognition and celebration and was presented on stage by HuffPost Canada colleague, Andree Lau.
This year, the