In a year when news media in Canada became harder and harder to find and the crisis in journalism was felt around the world, it is with pride and humility that The Walrus celebrates a night of awards. Following a silver win at the Digital Publishing Awards, we were recognized in seven categories at the 47th National Magazine Awards.
“I couldn’t be prouder of today’s winners and finalists,” said Editor-in-Chief Carmine Starnino. “Prizes are not the reason, nor the measure, for what we do. But as this year’s most nominated media organization, we have our mission—to produce journalism with impact—reflected in tonight’s showing.”
The Walrus’s Gold wins at the awards gala spanned everything from Columns for Contributing Writer Michelle Cyca to Investigative Reporting for “Who’s Going to Believe Me?” to Editor Grand Prix for Senior Editor Harley Rustad.
“It’s critical to come together as a community of journalists to celebrate outstanding work at a time when the industry is navigating cuts and closures, shocks in social media, and the rapid rise of synthetic content,” said Jennifer Hollett, Executive Director of The Walrus. “Congrats to The Walrus team and all of the nominees and winners tonight. This evening showcases the power and resilience of long-form stories and the people who make them.”
The Walrus has consistently maintained its status as a highly trusted independent media organization since 2003, thanks to a small but mighty team that believes in ideas, accountability, and facts.
Nights like this recognize the importance of storytelling in Canada, and these wins demonstrate the role The Walrus plays in it. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, the writers, artists, photographers, editors, fact checkers, and everyone on the team for contributing to this haul of wins.
LIST of WINNERS and FINALISTS:
GOLD WINNER for Column / Chronique
Michelle Cyca Contributing Writer Column
The Walrus
Writer: Michelle Cyca
Contributor: Harley Rustad, handling editor
GOLD WINNER for Investigative Reporting / Journalisme d’enquête
“Who’s Going to Believe Me?”
The Walrus
Writer: Lindsay Jones
Contributors: Johnny C.Y. Lam, photographer; Carmine Starnino, handling editor; Emma Buchanan, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
GOLD for Editor Grand Prix / Grand prix de la rédaction
Harley Rustad, The Walrus
SILVER WINNER for Fiction
Jude the Brave
The Walrus
Writer: Claire Cameron
Contributors: Sydney Smith, artist; Daniel Viola and Dafna Izenberg, handling editors; Colby Payne, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
SILVER WINNER for Profiles / Portraits
Alanis Obomsawin in Action
The Walrus
Writer: Zoe Heaps Tennant
Contributors: Shelby Lisk, photographer; Samia Madwar, handling editor; Tobin Ng, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
SILVER WINNER for Photo Essay & Photojournalism / Photojournalisme et essais photographiques
Bombs, Bullets, and Endangered Birds
The Walrus
Photographer: Eamon Mac Mahon
Contributors: Sarah Musgrave, writer; Paul Kim, art director; Daniel Viola, handling editor
SILVER WINNER for Cover Grand Prix / Grand prix de la page couverture
May 2023: “Did you know this was a graveyard?”
The Walrus
Contributors: James Lee Chiahan, illustrator; Paul Kim, art director
Long-Form Feature Writing: 6000+ / Article de fond — 6000+ mots
Where the Children Are Buried
The Walrus
Writer: Annie Hylton
Contributors: Sara Hylton, photographer; Harley Rustad, handling editor; Emma Wilkie, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
Long-Form Feature Writing / Article de fond — long format
Have You Been to the Library Lately?
The Walrus
Writer: Nicholas Hune-Brown
Contributors: Dorothy Leung, artist; Daniel Viola, handling editor; Tobin Ng, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
The End of Retirement
The Walrus
Writer: Cathrin Bradbury
Contributors: Chloe Cushman, artist; Dafna Izenberg, handling editor; Mashal Butt, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
On Earth as in Heaven
The Walrus
Writer: Randy Boyagoda
Contributors: Carmine Starnino, handling editor; Emma Wilkie, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
“Who’s Going to Believe Me?”
The Walrus
Writer: Lindsay Jones
Contributors: Carmine Starnino, handling editor; Emma Buchanan, fact checker; Johnny C.Y. Lam, photographer; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
Feature Writing / Article de fond
Notes from Grief Camp
The Walrus
Writer: Mitchell Consky
Contributors: Anson Chan, artist; Daniel Viola, handling editor; Emily Baron Cadloff, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
Column / Chronique
Tajja Isen Contributing Writer Column
The Walrus
Writer: Tajja Isen
Contributor: Dafna Izenberg, handling editor
Did Pierre Poilievre Pass His First Test? / Olivia Chow Won the Battle for Toronto. Can She Win the War? / We May Be Stuck with Doug Ford
The Walrus
Writer: David Moscrop
Contributor: Carmine Starnino, handling editor
Investigative Reporting / Journalisme d’enquête
Bad Faith
The Walrus
Writer: Rachel Browne
Contributors: Cornelia Li, artist; Harley Rustad, handling editor; Emma Wilkie, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
Poetry / Poésie
Honey Crisp
The Walrus
Writer: Molly Peacock
Contributor: Carmine Starnino, handling editor
Profiles / Portraits
Second Genesis: When a Tribute Band Transcends the Original
The Walrus
Writer: Dafna Izenberg
Contributors: Daniel Viola and Samia Madwar, editors; Emma Buchanan, fact checker; Siddhesh Inamdar, copy editor
Illustrations
Being Black in a Small Town
The Walrus
Illustrator: Michelle Theodore
Contributors: Joy SpearChief-Morris, writer; Celina Gallardo, art director
Social Media:
Twitter: @thewalrus
LinkedIn: /the-walrus
TikTok: @thewalrusca
Facebook: /thewalrus
Instagram: @thewalrus
For more information, contact:
Monita Mohan, Marketing Manager, The Walrus, at monita@thewalrus.ca
About The Walrus
The Walrus provokes new thinking and sparks conversation on matters vital to Canadians. As a registered charity, we publish independent, fact-based journalism in The Walrus and at thewalrus.ca; we produce national, ideas-focused events, including our flagship series The Walrus Talks; and we train emerging professionals in publishing and nonprofit management. The Walrus is invested in the idea that a healthy society relies on informed citizens.
