Journal Staff
The Sarnia Journal has been nominated for five Ontario Community Newspaper Awards — your hometown paper’s best ever showing at the OCNAs.
Reporter Cathy Dobson earned two of the nods.
Her examination of Sarnia’s public art works, and whether the sculptures reflect the city’s character and aspirations, received a nomination for best Arts and Entertainment story written last year.
Dobson was also nominated in the category of Sports and Recreation writing. Judges tagged her tale about Sammy Kabat, a 12-year-old Sarnia girl who, despite losing a lung, was ready to represent Canada at a world junior cheer championship in Florida.
Reporter Troy Shantz was nominated for best Feature/News Series. Last year, Shantz dug deep into the operation of metal thieves in Sarnia, examining their social, financial and political impact on the community.
The Journal was also recognized for best Special Section. The 28-page Remembrance Day edition, Sarnia Remembers, contained 22 stories, many never before told, about Sarnia’s military heroes and their contribution around the world.
Finally, The Journal is in the running for best In-House Promotion, its first nomination in the highly competitive field of advertising.
Judges also awarded an honourable mention for Best Photo Layout, a two-page spread of nature photographs under the headline: Close encounters of the bird, furred and undeterred kind.
The winners will be announced at an April 3 awards gala at the Hilton Garden Inn in Vaughan, Ont.