Acclaimed Debut of Fresh Journalistic Talent Impresses Audience
Festive Honors for Student Journalists
The vibrant world of journalism received a boost at the grand ceremony for the Bernard-Descôteaux and René-Lévesque student press awards, held last Thursday at the National Archives in Montreal.
This momentous occasion was graced by the presence of Brian Myles, the illustrious director of Le Devoir, and brought together by the collaborative efforts of the René-Lévesque Foundation, the NATIONAL agency, the Quebec Center for Education in Media and Information, and Le Devoir itself.
Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman's Shining Moment
The evening began with the presentation of the first Bernard-Descôteaux Prize, previously known as the Le Devoir Student Press Prize. This prestigious award was bestowed upon Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman, who works at The Concordian, the University Concordia's newspaper. Along with the accolade, she received a generous $2,500 scholarship.
Glorieux-Stryckman was commended for her exceptional investigative journalism, particularly her report on the protracted delays that plague access to information requests in universities across the country. Her meticulous work, impressive interview skills, and captivating narrative captured the attention of the jury, comprising of Zacharie Goudreault, Annabelle Caillou, and Florence Morin-Martel from Le Devoir.
Kim Martin's Triumph at the College Level
In the college sector, the award went to Kim Martin of the Cégep de Jonquière. She also received a $1,500 scholarship. Impressed by her ability to uncover original topics, the jury pointed out her riveting investigation into the challenges faced by new real estate agents, who must juggle two jobs to secure a sustainable income. Highlighting her well-crafted articles, thorough research, and unique perspectives, the jury hailed her as a budding talent in journalism.
Prior to the awards ceremony, Marie-Andrée Chouinard, the esteemed editor-in-chief of Le Devoir, reminded everyone of Bernard Descôteaux's enduring commitment to fostering journalistic excellence in young minds. "Many of us remember our former director as a passionate advocate for the youth. He demonstrated his belief in their potential in numerous ways: hiring them, publishing them, offering his guidance, and, above all, listening to them and valuing their contributions."
Jeanne Claveau-Laviolette and Aurélie Lachapelle's Joint Victory in the René-Lévesque Prize
The René-Lévesque Prize, which recognizes the leadership and commitment of student media directors, was awarded jointly to Jeanne Claveau-Laviolette and Aurélie Lachapelle for their outstanding work within Montréal Campus, the UQAM's newspaper. They were also awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The jury, comprising of Marie-Andrée Chouinard and Claude Lévesque, a member of the CA of the René-Lévesque Foundation and a former Le Devoir journalist, lauded their efforts to strengthen the connection between their media and student associations, and their courageous and rigorous investigation into the potential links between Montreal universities and the State of Israel.
Loreen Lalane's Triumph at the College Level
At the college level, the prize and the $1,500 scholarship were bestowed upon Loreen Lalane for her impressive involvement within the student newspaper at the Collège André-Grasset. Claude Lévesque commended the winner's dynamism, professionalism, and courage, noting her remarkable ability to rebuild a team and a media that had nearly vanished.
Interestingly, in April, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, expressed hope for an agreement "in the coming months." Moreover, due to anticipated snowfall of up to 40 cm starting Wednesday evening, the City of Montreal has recommended avoiding travel on Thursday due to the expected weather conditions.
One might ponder what constitutes a good life—in addition to the anticipated snowfall and the inspiring awards ceremony—and reflect on the answers to philosophical questions such as, "What is a good life?" To learn more about what others consider a fulfilling existence, consider these intriguing insights: "A good life is, among other things, having the privilege of looking forward to something that will truly happen."
- The Concordia University's newspaper journalist, Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman, was awarded the prestigious Bernard-Descôteaux Prize during a ceremonious press awards event, recognized for her remarkable investigative journalism skills in the field of education and self-development, particularly in exposing delays in accessing information requests in universities across the country.
- Kim Martin, a journalist from the Cégep de Jonquière, was honored at the same event, winning the $1,500 scholarship in the college sector for her exceptional reporting on the challenges faced by new real estate agents and her unique perspectives in online education.
- A joint victory unfolded in the René-Lévesque Prize category, where Jeanne Claveau-Laviolette and Aurélie Lachapelle from the UQAM's newspaper, Montréal Campus, were awarded $2,500 for their impactful work strengthening student associations' connections and courageous investigations into potential links between Montreal universities and the State of Israel.
- Loreen Lalane, the winner from the Collège André-Grasset, was awarded for her exceptional contributions to the student newspaper, showcasing her dynamism, professionalism, and courage in rebuilding a nearly vanished team and media.
