Harder was recognized in the long feature category for a “painstaking recreation of what happens when police go undercover, seeking to wring out a confession from a cold-case murderer.”
In recognition of his deep dive into the police pursuit of a killer, Regina Leader-Post reporter Brandon Harder was honoured with a National Newspaper Award.
The NNAs, handed out Friday in Montreal, were established by the Toronto Press Club in 1949. The awards honour the best journalism from Canada’s daily newspapers as well as community papers and digital organizations that publish original content at least five days a week.
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Harder was recognized in the long feature category for a “painstaking recreation of what happens when police go undercover, seeking to wring out a confession from a cold-case murderer,” the NNAs said. His story documented the case of Joseph George Thauberger, who was eventually convicted of the 1997 murder of his brother. Thauberger confessed near the conclusion of a Regina police operation known as UCO Thaw.
Listen to Brandon Harder discuss The secret in the slough on the 10/3 podcast:
Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter Julia Peterson was a runner-up at the NNAs in the local reporting category for “all-encompassing coverage of the two inquests into the James Smith Cree Nation mass killings,” NNA organizers said.
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On Sept. 4, 2022, 11 people, ranging in age from 23 to 78 years old, were killed and 18 were injured when Myles Sanderson went on a rampage at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon. A pair of inquests took place last year in January and February.
Postmedia Network received a total nine nominations this year for work by journalists from The Financial Post, Vancouver Sun/The Province, Ottawa Citizen/Sun, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post.
As well, Postmedia Network journalist Aaron Beswick, a reporter at the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, was named journalist of the year. Beswick, who was also the winner for top local reporting, was honoured for his coverage of lawlessness in Nova Scotia’s lobster and eel fisheries.
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“He shed light on a topic that is important to the industry, Canadians nationwide and internationally,” the award judges said.
At this year’s NNAs, there were 69 finalists in 23 categories, representing 26 news organizations, out of a total 864 entries submitted by 82 news organizations.
“Our strength has always been rooted in our deep connection to communities across the country, with our organization being almost entirely focused on local reporting, so I’m gratified to see the recognition for Brandon Harder of the Regina Leader-Post and Aaron Beswick of The Chronicle Herald in Halifax,” said Duncan Clark, Postmedia’s chief content officer. “Aaron being chosen as Journalist of the Year is also a wonderful representation of the commitment from all our teams in Atlantic Canada that made our recent acquisition there so important.”
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The Globe and Mail garnered a leading 16 nominations, followed by the Toronto Star with 15 and La Presse with 13. The Canadian Press received four nominations.
The Globe took home nine of the 23 regular awards, while the Toronto Star won six. One of the Globe’s awards was shared with the Halifax Chronicle Herald and two of the Star awards were shared with the Investigative Journalism Bureau.
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