CTV News and Bell Media Radio Receive Top Honours at 2018 RTDNA National Conference Gala

TORONTO (May 26, 2018) – CTV News and Bell Media Radio were honoured for outstanding achievements in electronic and digital journalism at the 2018 RTDNA National Conference Gala, held this evening in Toronto. Bell Media won a total of 15 awards at this evening’s event, bringing the tally of 2018 National and Regional RTDNA awards to 44. Among the many highlights, CTV Vancouver Island’s CTV NEWS AT SIX was recognized with the Bert Cannings Award for Best Small/Medium Market Television Newscast. CTV Regina’s INDIGENOUS CIRCLE won the Trina McQueen Award for Best National Television News Information Program. Canada’s most-watched documentary series, W5, took home the Trina McQueen Award for Best Network Television News Information Program, as well as the Adrienne Clarkson Diversity Award for the story “Electric Pow Wow.” CTV News was also honoured with two Charlie Edwards Awards for breaking news coverage: CTV News Channel for their coverage of the Québec City mosque shooting, and CTV Vancouver for their coverage of the B.C. forest fires. “It is a tremendous honour to be recognized by the RTDNA for our ongoing commitment to excellence in journalism,” said Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News. “My biggest congratulations to all of our journalists for the skill and dedication they display each and every day, keeping Canadians informed with trusted, credible reporting on all platforms.” The RTDNA also presented Bell Media journalists with a variety of top individual honours. The RTDNA’s prestigious President’s Award was presented to W5 Host and Managing Editor Kevin Newman for his accomplishments in bringing recognition and distinction to the field of electronic and digital journalism. CTV NATIONAL NEWS Weekend Anchor and W5 Reporter Sandie Rinaldo was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for exemplary service and continued excellence during the course of her career in journalism. NEWSTALK 1010 News Director Kym Geddes was honoured with the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contributions to the continuing success of RTDNA Canada. In radio, Montréal’s CJAD 800 won the Sam Ross Award for Best Opinion and Commentary. In sports, TSN took home two network awards for Feature Sports Reporting and Live Special Events. The following is a summary of Bell Media’s 2018 RTDNA Canada awards, including awards that were given out at the annual gala this evening: National and Network Awards (Awarded May 26, 2018 in Toronto) National Television Hugh Haugland Award – Excellence in Video CTV Ottawa: Sweet Canadiana, The Untold Story of Oscar Peterson’s World Famous “Canadiana Suite” Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Regina: Harvesting Hope: The Brothers of the Bursary Trina McQueen Award – Best Television News Information Program CTV Regina: INDIGENOUS CIRCLE Charlie Edwards Award – Breaking News CTV Vancouver: B.C. Forest Fires Gord Sinclair Award – News-Live Special Events CTV Vancouver: Election 2017 Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Small/Medium Market) CTV Vancouver Island – CTV NEWS AT SIX Feature Sports Reporting Award CTV Edmonton: Ryder Soccer Network Television Sam Ross Award – Opinion and Commentary CTV News: Power of the People Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature CTV News: James Sydney Battis at Vimy Ridge Charlie Edwards Award – Breaking News CTV News Channel: Québec City Mosque Shooting Adrienne Clarkson Award – Diversity W5: “Electric Pow Wow” Trina McQueen Award – Best Television News Information Program W5: “Jet Lagged,” “Mesh Misery” Feature Sports Reporting Award TSN: Sound of Thunder Sports: Live Special Events Award TSN: 2017 Grey Cup National Radio Sam Ross Award – Opinion and Commentary CJAD 800: Andrew Let’s Talk Story Regional Awards: Central Region (Awarded April 22, 2018, Toronto) Byron MacGregor Award – Radio Newscast (Small/Medium Market) AM800 CKLW: News, Major Flooding Sam Ross Award – Opinion and Commentary News Talk Radio, CJAD 800: Andrew Let’s Talk Story Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Large Market) NEWSTALK1010: Debating Armed Cops in Schools Charlie Edwards Award – Breaking News CP24: BNR Fire Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage CTV Montréal: Over the Line: Life Through the Eyes of Asylum Seekers Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Northern Ontario: Life After the Military Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Windsor: Taking No Steps for Granted: Hunter’s Story Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Small/Medium Market) CTV Barrie: Highway 400 Crash Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Large Market) CTV Ottawa: Live in the Flood Zone: CTV Ottawa Special Hugh Haugland Award – Excellence in Video CTV Ottawa: Sweet Canadiana, The Untold Story of Oscar Peterson’s World Famous “Canadiana Suite” Feature Sports Reporting Award CTV Kitchener: On the Roster, Field of Dreams Regional Awards: Prairie Region (Awarded April 22, 2018, Regina) Gord Sinclair Award – News-Live Special Events CTV Calgary: Civic Election 2017 Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Regina: Harvesting Hope: The Brothers of the Bursary Trina McQueen Award – Best Television News Information Program CTV Regina: INDIGENOUS CIRCLE Feature Sports Reporting Award CTV Edmonton: Ryder Soccer Regional Awards: BC Region (Awarded April 22, 2018, Vancouver) Digital Media Award (Small/Medium Market) CTV Vancouver Island: B.C. Election 2017 Charlie Edwards Award – Breaking News CTV Vancouver: B.C. Forest Fires Ron Laidlaw Award – Continuing Coverage CTV Vancouver Island: Parkinson’s Drug Gord Sinclair Award – News-Live Special Events CTV Vancouver: Election 2017 Sam Ross Award – Opinion and Commentary CTV Vancouver: Officer Down, The Last Word With Mike McCardell Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Vancouver Island: Biggest Little Fan Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature (Large Market) CTV Vancouver: Keeper of the Flag Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Small/Medium Market) CTV Vancouver Island – CTV NEWS AT SIX Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Large Market) CTV Vancouver – CTV NEWS AT SIX Hugh Haugland Award – Excellence in Video CTV Vancouver: One-Handed Shooter Feature Sports Reporting Award CTV Vancouver Island: The Long Shots Regional Awards: Atlantic Region (Awarded April 22, 2018, Dartmouth) Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature (Small/Medium Market) CTV Atlantic: Mystery & Murder: The Last Public Execution in Halifax Trina McQueen Award – Best Television News Information Program CTV Atlantic: Grand Adventure in Grand Pre: Celebrating a 400-Year Friendship Bert Cannings Award – Best Television Newscast (Small/Medium Market) CTV Atlantic: Battling the Blizzard: Weather Bomb Blankets the Maritimes