CANADA—Expositor associate editor Michael Erskine can add a couple of significant feathers in his cap. Mr. Erskine received two first place awards for his writing on the national stage as the winners of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association were announced earlier this month.
Mr. Erskine received a first-place finish in the Best Feature Story category for the piece ‘On Valentine’s Day, Mindemoya couple ended their lives together,’ which appeared in the March 9, 2022 edition of The Expositor.
“Compelling features need compelling personal stories and you don’t get more compelling than a couple married for 73 years who choose to die together on Valentine’s Day,” the judge writes. “Michael Erskine chose to tell the tale in chronological fashion, straightforwardly giving the facts about the couple’s relationship in a way that made their decision to die together understandable to any reader. Erskine avoids the temptation to be overly dramatic or sentimental, and explains the MAID process through the experience of Donna and Jim Nevills. It’s a heart-tugging story told well.”
Second place in the category went to The Eastern Graphic of Montague, PEI and third place to Pique Newsmagazine of Whistler and Pemberton, BC.
“This was a remarkably difficult category to judge because of the high quality of entrants across the board,” the judge continues. “It was impressive to see how many in-depth features are being done related to news stories to give readers background and angles they would not get from breaking news—the involvement of local people in world events, detailed explanations of organizations and events, local angles to national stories, original investigative work relevant to local communities and compelling personal stories of the people behind the headlines. It shows community papers are doing their job well, going beyond the headlines to provide the kind of journalism that readers can’t get elsewhere to help understand what is really going on in their communities.”
Mr. Erskine also took first place honours in the Best National Editorial category for his July 27, 2022 editorial ‘An apology marks the start of reconciliation, not the end.’
“An engaging and well-crafted piece of writing that takes a strong stance on a topic of importance to all Canadians,” the judge writes. “It lays out its argument clearly and coherently, while providing vital historical context along the way. Well done.”
Second place in the field went to Nunatsiaq News of Nunavut/Nunavik, NU while third place went to The Carillon in Steinbach, MB.
“I was impressed by the wide range of important topics covered by the submissions in this category—almost all of which would certainly spur debate among the paper’s readers, whether on the letters page or over a cup of coffee,” the judge notes. “For me, the three that stood out were exceptionally well-executed. In each case, the writing was clear and concise and struck an appropriate tone for an editorial. All three writers took a strong stance on their chosen subject and did an excellent job of backing up their argument.”
“It is both an honour and singularly humbling to be recognized nationally for simply doing something I love—an honour in that my writing was singled out by my peers in the industry as being best in its class, yet humbling when I consider the important role that subjects of those stories played,” Mr. Erskine told The Expositor.
“It is an honour and a privilege to serve our communities by bringing stories that matter to our readers to light. In both instances, the pieces for which these awards were assigned to us are stories that attempt to bridge those divides that too often beset our communities,” he adds. “I say ‘us’ because these stories were only made possible by the hard work and dedication of the team that is The Manitoulin Expositor and through the ongoing support of those communities we serve.”
“I am so incredibly proud of Mike and these most recent accolades,” said Expositor publisher Alicia McCutcheon. “This is far from the first time Mike has been honoured on the national stage and it is so well-deserved. A hallmark of community newspapers is how in touch its reporters are in the communities they serve. Mike is no exception and it shows in his writing. He truly cares about Manitoulin and its people. Congratulations, Mike.”