Finalists Announced for 10th Annual World Press Freedom Day Awards

    OTTAWA, April 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Four Canadian journalists who have stood
up to threats to freedom of expression in Canada are the finalists for an
annual World Press Freedom prize.
    Toronto Star Asia Correspondent Bill Schiller, freelance journalist and
author Derek Finkle, reporters Joel-Denis Bellavance and Gilles Toupin of
Montreal's La Presse and Maclean's columnist Mark Steyn will be considered for
the $2,000 prize, which is awarded each year to the Canadian media worker who,
in the view of the jury, has made the most significant contribution to press
freedom in this country over the previous 12 months.
    The prize will be awarded by the Canadian Committee for World Press
Freedom at a lunch event marking World Press Freedom Day on Friday, May 2nd at
the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

    About the Annual World Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon and
    International Cartoon Competition

    Ever since May 3 was dedicated as World Press Freedom Day by UNESCO,
organizations around the globe have held events around this date to honour
media workers who have risked life, liberty or both to bring their stories to
the public.
    At the World Press Freedom Day luncheon in Ottawa, an annual event since
1998, awards are presented to Canadian media workers who have made significant
contributions to the cause. The winner, picked by a prestigious jury of
current and former journalists, receives a $2,000 prize. Past winners have
included the Vancouver Sun's Kim Bolan, Haroon Siddiqui (Toronto Star), Andrew
McIntosh (National Post), Tarek Fatah (Canadian Islamic Congress), and
Dr. John Hoey (CMAJ).
    An important highlight of the Ottawa Awards Luncheon event is the
recognition of editorial cartoonists from around the world who have used
images and words to make powerful commentary on world issues. The
International Editorial Cartoon Competition receives hundreds of entries every
year, often from countries where press freedom is not a reality but a distant
dream.

    Sponsors of the Ottawa WPFD luncheon and awards include the Ottawa
Citizen, the Canadian Newspaper Association (CNA), Telus, Bank of Montreal,
the Brewers' Association of Canada, Le Droit, the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA), the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Air Canada,
Hill Times/Embassy and many more. CNW is the official newswire of the Canadian
Committee for World Press Freedom.

For further information: David Gollob, (613) 745-3810,
www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca