June 11, 2008
OTTAWA-Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2007 Michener Award for meritorious public service in journalism and the 2008 Michener-Deacon Fellowship on Friday, June 13, 2008, at 6:00 p.m., at Rideau Hall.
Media wishing to cover this event are advised to use the Princess Avenue Gate and to arrive at the Princess Anne entrance no later than 5:30 p.m.
The six finalists for the 2007 Michener Award are:
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and The Globe and Mail
- Le Devoir
- The Globe and Mail and La Presse
- The London Free Press
- The Province
- Toronto Star
The winner of the Michener-Deacon Fellowship for 2008 is:
- Denise Davy of The Hamilton Spectator
The Michener Awards
Launched in 1970 under the auspices of Canada's third Canadian governor general, the late Roland Michener, the award focuses on the degree of public benefit generated by media projects, both large and small, in print and broadcast. The annual award is open to daily and weekly newspapers, news agencies, radio and television stations and networks, as well as periodicals. The winners are chosen on the basis of hard-hitting impact, journalistic professionalism, and the resources available for the project.
The Michener-Deacon Fellowship
The fellowship of the Michener Awards Foundation, introduced in 1987, is known today as the Michener-Deacon Fellowship (named after the late Roland Michener and the late Paul Deacon, a senior media executive and Michener Awards Foundation president). The fellowship is to encourage excellence in investigative print and broadcast journalism that serves the public interest through values that benefit the community.
Art Matters Forum, June 13, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond will host Art Matters, starting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday June 13. Art Matters brings together Michener Award laureates, journalists, students and academics to explore the following theme-Truth and Plausibility: How do the media reflect Canadian society.
For every ceremony honouring and rewarding the talents of Canadians, Rideau Hall, on His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond's initiative, organizes a forum called "Art Matters". It is a wonderful opportunity to bring laureates, academics and administrators together to discuss and examine the challenges facing culture in our society. These forums encourage dialogue and provide a space for reflection.
Over 20 Art Matters forums have already been held in Canada and abroad over the past two years. The public is invited to participate in an Art Matters forum on the Citizen Voices Web site, at Citizen Voices.
Media wishing to cover the Art Matters Forum are advised to use the Princess Avenue Gate and to arrive at the Princess Anne entrance no later than 9:00 a.m.
For more information on the Michener Awards and this year's nominees, please visit Michener Awards. The prize is administered by the Michener Awards Foundation.
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Media information
Ceremony and Art Matters
Rideau Hall Press Office
Marie-Paule Thorn
613-993-2569
Governor General of Canada / Citizen Voices
Laureates
The Michener Awards Foundation
David Humphreys
613-230-3155
