MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
HALIFAX, NS – The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) is proud to announce its 2026 finalists, recognizing work published in 2025. The AJAs celebrate excellence in journalism across Atlantic Canada, highlighting the stories and storytellers who have informed, challenged, and inspired audiences over the past year.
With categories spanning print, radio, television, and digital media, the awards showcase the depth of talent and dedication within the region’s journalism community.
The awards will be presented on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Halifax Central Public Library in the Paul O’Regan Hall.
The AJAs Board of Directors is also pleased to announce that this year’s Hall of Fame Award will be presented to Stephen Kimber, freelance journalist and author based in Nova Scotia, in recognition of his outstanding and lasting contributions to journalism.
In addition, the Mike Critch Excellence in Crime Reporting Award will be presented again this year. Established by Mark Critch in honour of his late father, the award recognizes excellence in local crime reporting across Atlantic Canada.
Tickets for the 2026 AJAs ceremony will be available for purchase in the coming days. Additional details will be shared soon.
The 2026 AJAs finalists are (in no particular order):
PRINT/DIGITAL
Breaking News
James Reid – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, Auditor General Uncovers Wasted Funds On Travel Nursing Agencies
Nicole Sullivan – Cape Breton Post, NS, ‘I felt sick’; Cape Breton police investigating swastikas across from Jewish cemetery
Tara Bradbury – The Telegram, NL, Gander man arrested after DNA cracks Toronto cold case
Magazine Covers
Dru Kennedy – Atlantic Salmon Journal, NB, Atlantic Salmon Journal’s Winter Cover
Laura Spencer and Heather Fegan – Atlantic Books Today, NS, Natalie MacMaster Has a Story to Tell
Glen Strickey and Roxanne Boers – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Chasing the aurora borealis2
Enterprise Reporting
Josh Lewis – Eastern Graphic, PEI, Health PEI Series
Derek Montague and Justin Brake – The Independent, NL, Labrador gynecologist accused of malpractice
Lindsay Jones and Greg Mercer – Globe and Mail, NS, Jack and Lilly Sullivan
Features
Spoorthy Raman – Mongabay, NL, Newfoundland’s puffins are perilously attracted to artificial light
Aaron Beswick – The Chronicle Herald, NS, ‘He was a legend, one of the best’: North Atlantic claims two N.S. fishermen
Lindsay Jones – Globe and Mail, NS, MSC Baltic III
Photojournalism News
Keith Gosse – The Telegram, NL, Tactical Takedown
Greg Locke – Globe and Mail, NL, Newfoundland Wildfires
Keith Gosse – The Telegram, NL, Senior Saviours
Photojournalism Feature
Jeorge Sadi – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Long-standing Africville activist says he will fight latest eviction notice
Kevin McBain – South Shore Bulletin, NS, AAA Atlantic championships
Greg Locke – Globe and Mail, NL, Ice bath therapy on Signal Hill, Newfoundland
VIDEO
Breaking News
Becky Daley – NTV News, NL, Badger Fire Evacuation Lifted
Marykate O’Neill – NTV News, NL, Concern for Trepassey’s Breakwater as Powerful Storm Batters Province
Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla – Global Halifax, NS, Man Charged with First-Degree Murder, Saint John, N.B.
Enterprise Reporting
Ella MacDonald – Global Halifax, NS, Unheard. Unserved; Maritime Women’s Health in Crisis
Ben Cleary – NTV News, NL, Power to the People: The Upper Churchill Contract
Allyson Dubé – Radio-Canada, NB, Mauvais climat de travail à la prison de Saint-Hilaire
Feature
Jocelyn Elsdon and Michael Heenan – CBC News, NB, Swamp Water
Bailey Howard – NTV News, NL, Ahead by a Century: 100 Years of Memorial University
Jodi Cooke – NTV News, NL, We the North
Newscast (television)
David Squires, Amy Smith, Tom Murphy and Ryan Snoddon – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, A tribute show to Colleen Jones
Tracy Lightfoot – CBC Prince Edward Island, PEI, CBC News: Compass, Premier Resigns
Vincent Lehouillier – Radio-Canada, NB, Téléjournal Acadie
Video Journalism
Colleen Connors – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Show of work
Skye Bryden-Blom – Global Halifax, NS, Show of work
Becky Daley – NTV News, NL, Recovery work continues on grounded MSC Baltic III
AUDIO
Documentary Program
Lindsay Bird and Caroline Hillier – CBC Atlantic Voice, NL, Looking for Eliza
Mariam Mesbah and Lindsay Bird – CBC Atlantic Voice, NB, The Graduate
Enterprise Reporting
Tom Ayers – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Lack of trust in the public trustee?
VOCM News; Linda Swain and Sara Strickland – VOCM, NL, On the Ground of the CBN Wildfires
Feature
Sarah Keaveny Vos and Lindsay Bird – CBC Prince Edward Island, PEI, Kindergarten to Grade 12 – Lessons in Life
Lindsay Bird – CBC Atlantic Voice, NL, The Art of Life
Viola Pruss – CBC New Brunswick, NB, Covered Bridges
Information Program
95.7 NewsRadio Team Halifax; Vanessa van des Nes, Dan Ahlstrand, Mark Hodgins, Chris Halef, Blake Priddle and Shelli Summers – 95.7 NewsRadio, NS, 95.7 NewsRadio 20th Anniversary Special
Christina Harnett, Erin MacInnis, Portia Clark, Katy Parsons, Jerry West, Cynthia
Gatti and Phlis McGregor – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Information Morning Morning Nova Scotia with Portia Clark
Newscast (radio)
95.7 NewsRadio Team Halifax; Mark Hodgins, Chris Halef and Dan Ahlstrand – 95.7 NewsRadio, NS, Susie’s Lake Wildfire Aug 12th, 2025 4 pm Newscast
Caitlin Snow – Acadia Broadcasting – CKHY / CKHZ Halifax, NS, Nova Scotia Wildfires
Tara Clow – Acadia Broadcasting – Moncton CKNI The Bend, NB, New Brunswick Wildfires
Podcast
Matt Stickland – Grand Parade, NS, Grand Parade Goes to Quebec
ANY MEDIUM
Arts & Entertainment Reporting and Writing
Kevin Yarr – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Music is the language of hope
Wendy Bergfeldt – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Miner’s Houses, Glace Bay
Rhea Rollmann – The Independent, NL, What the water holds
Business Reporting and Writing
Alex Bill – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, Puddister Sells Pennecon To Ontario Industrial Firm
Brian McLaughlin – The Telegraph, NB, Is Time of Day Pricing The Next Frontier for NB Power?
James Reid – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, CoLab Drums Up US$72 million For AI Growth
Civic Affairs Reporting and Writing
Haley Ryan – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Tenants of Halifax mobile home park set water meter precedent across Nova Scotia
Logan MacLean – The Guardian, PEI, PEI water woes
Carole Morris-Underhill – Valley Journal-Advertiser, NS, ‘A disaster waiting to happen’: No winter warming centre planned for Windsor
Climate Action Reporting and Writing
Brian Owens – Atlantic Salmon Journal, NB, Fish Can’t Walk
Cloe Logan – Canada’s National Observer, ON, Planned New Brunswick gas plant could threaten vital migratory bird corridor
Jeremy Hull – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Castles made of sand
Commentary
Paul MacNeill – Eastern Graphic, PEI, Emails Show What’s Wrong with PSB
Ainsley Hawthorn – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, This isn’t the first time American leaders have suggested annexing Canada
Bill McGuire – Island Farmer, PEI, Griffon Editorial: Tariffs, lemmings, curling & censorship; AVC’s decision betrays PEI’s core values
Indigenous Affairs Reporting and Writing
Cassidy Chisholm – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, How adding names to archival images has been healing We’koqma’q First Nation
John Chilibeck – Brunswick News, NB, Show of work
Heidi Atter – The Independent, NL, Innu welcome first students into Innu-aimun immersion Kindergarten
Legal Affairs Reporting and Writing
Gareth Hampshire – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, N.S. abuse victims reveal lifelong trauma from father’s sexual violence
Lindsay Jones and Tu Thanh Ha – The Globe and Mail, NS, Atlantic Registry Tim Bousquet – Halifax Examiner, NS, The Wrongful Conviction and Execution of
Daniel Sampson
Social Justice Reporting and Writing
Celina Aalders – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Intimate Partner Violence: show of work
Cameron Kilfoy – The Telegram, NL, ‘I am a Newfoundlander’: MUN residency policy stands in the way of a young woman’s hope to become a physician
Judith Mendiolea Lelo de Larrea – PNI Atlantic News, NS, Unfair cost and burden: how the pink tax puts women at a disadvantage
Sports Reporting and Writing
Madiha Mughees – Halifax Examiner, NS, ‘Cricket is where you’re able to assert a cultural identity’: Going to bat for a rapidly growing sport in Halifax
Terry Roberts and Darryl Murphy – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Here’s how a ‘ragtag’ Placentia team captured N.L.’s first Canadian junior softball title
SPECIAL AWARDS
AJA Hall of Fame Award
Stephen Kimber – Freelance Journalist and Author, NS
Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award
Shauna Bernard – The Telegram, NL, Show of work
Giuliana Grillo De Lambarri – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Show of work
Yumna Iftikhar – The Independent, NL, Show of work
Student Journalist Awards
Marlo Ritchie – University of King’s College, NS, Remand numbers in Nova Scotia’s
jails could soar under new law, warn experts
Melissa Mbeba – NSCC Ivany Campus, NS, Mothering Within
Olivia Nitti – University of King’s College, NS, Finding sanctuary
The Mike Critch Excellence in Crime Reporting Award
Ella MacDonald – Global Halifax, NS, The Murder of Devon Marsman
Ryan Cooke and Katie Breen – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Pure Hell
Tara Bradbury – The Telegram, NL, A Conversation That Never Came
Contact:
www.ajas.ca
morgen@impacteventsns.ca