Journalism student wins national award

Posted: April 4, 2014 11:15 a.m.

Kristen McEwen, fourth-year Journalism student.
Kristen McEwen, fourth-year Journalism student. Photo courtesy of the Faculty of Arts

Fourth-year student Kristen McEwen won top prize this April for her photo essay that was published during her paid internship at the Moosomin World-Spectator. Her “Old Tyme Harvest for Hunger” piece received a Premier Award for Best Photo Essay (circulation up to 3,999) at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards.  More than 2,600 entries were received from 273 publications around the country for this year’s national competition which recognizes excellence in community journalism.

McEwen says being an intern was a fantastic experience. “You work as a journalist during your internship, especially in small newsrooms like the World-Spectator. I was able to practice the skills I learned at school, like layout, to get the paper out each week.” She adds, “I enjoyed travelling and meeting people across southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba to cover stories.”

This award may not be the only one McEwen receives for her work as an intern. Both she and fellow School of Journalism student Julia Dima (who also interned at the Moosomin World-Spectator) are finalists in the following categories for the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association (SWNA) Awards competition:



•Best Photo Essay
McEwen’s “Old Tyme Harvest for Hunger” and Dima’s “Wildlife of Churchill, Manitoba”

•Best Habitat Conservation Writing
McEwen’s article on a tailgate pasture tour

•Best Agricultural Coverage
Dima’s article on immigrant farmers

•Best Wildlife Photo
Dima’s photo of a polar bear from her essay “Wildlife of Churchill, Manitoba”

•Best Sports Photo
Dima’s photo of rodeo action at Wapella’s Doge City Days


The winners of the SWNA Awards will be announced at the Association’s convention this April in Saskatoon.