Each year, World Press Freedom Canada (WPFC) pays tribute to those making an outstanding contribution to press freedom in Canada at an annual luncheon to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
Press Freedom Award
The annual Press Freedom award recognizes a nominee whose public interest journalism has cut through a veil of secrecy, legal maneuvers, political intimidation or other tactics designed to stifle their work or put their career or safety at risk. Work must have been published in the previous year.
Career Achievement Award in honour of Spencer Moore
The Career Achievement Award in honour of Spencer Moore recognizes a person who, throughout their career, has displayed an indefatigable pursuit of press freedom and transparency.
The Career Achievement Award is named in honour of the late Spencer Moore, founding member of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom, who helped build the Committee and launch the annual luncheon.
NEW: Student Achievement Award
World Press Freedom Canada is also thrilled to announce a new award to recognize an outstanding student journalist who has demonstrated a commitment to press freedom.
Nominees for the new Student Achievement Award must have been a registered student at a Canadian post-secondary institution in 2023, whose work showed determination to publish a story in the face of challenges or obstacles to freely reporting on issues that matter to their school community. Work must have been published or aired on either student media outlets or mainstream online or broadcast media outlets in 2023. Unpublished work done for class assignments will not be accepted.
Prizes
The Press Freedom Award winner will receive $3,000 and a certificate from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. The Career Achievement winner is awarded $1,500. The Student Achievement Award winner will receive $500.
WPFC is honoured to award journalists who continually confront secrecy, defy intimidation, and overcome dangerous obstacles in their pursuit of truth. Without them, stories that reveal the facts and uncover the evidence shaping our collective reality may not be told.
Winners will be announced at our annual Press Freedom Awards Luncheon on May 2, 2024, at the National Arts Centre.
