Breaking news — the North Island Gazette has been nominated for two Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards this year (Newspaper Excellence Category B 1,601-3,500, and Spot News Photo).
The Ma Murrays are a huge deal, they recognize the achievements of the association’s 100+ member newspapers in British Columbia and the Yukon. The awards have been around for almost a century, and now I can say I’ve actually been nominated for two due to my own hard work.
We submitted last year and the only award we were nominated for was a design category for our Port Hardy 50th anniversary supplement, which was actually done by our production team in Campbell River. We won, which was definitely cool, but I felt kind of indifferent towards the whole thing.
It’s funny — I’ve won countless medals and trophies from playing sports, but I have never actually been nominated for anything, other than an acting award when I was in Grade 10 (thanks, Ms. Seychelle!)
With that out of the way, let’s talk about me being nominated for Spot News Photo of the year. I’ll try to make it interesting, I promise.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Hanna’s second day on the job, and we heard over the scanner there was a structure fire in Fort Rupert.
Immediately our journalistic instincts kicked into gear, and we ran out the door with cameras in hand.
Photographing car accidents and house fires is easily the hardest thing emotionally that you have to do as a journalist, but it’s part of the job and you have to do it.
When we arrived in Fort Rupert, the fire had already engulfed the structure and was shooting out the windows. Port Hardy Fire Rescue’s Deputy Chief Gavin Texmo was first on scene, quickly pulling out his hose to attack the flames and knock them down.
He looked at me, or maybe behind me at someone else, and then grabbed his radio with one hand and called it in as he continued to spray down the house with his other hand.
My finger hit the button on my camera and a quick “snap” echoed through the air.
We left soon after, making sure to stay out of Port Hardy Fire Rescue’s way as they did their job by continuing to knock down the fire.
It was an experience, that’s for sure.
As for the Newspaper Excellence award nomination, I don’t really have too much to say about it, other than “hard work pays off”.
Everyone in the office chipped in and contributed to it, but I think we would all agree that Hanna Petersen is the true “All-Star” here at the North Island Gazette. If you see her around town, please congratulate her, because she deserves the credit.
As for me, I’m going to keep putting out the best product I possibly can every week. I love the North Island, I’m honoured to be running your local newspaper, and I promise to continue delivering real news that matters.