Call for submissions: Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Early career photojournalists looking to gain national exposure are encouraged to apply for the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award, a unique opportunity to cover breaking news, major sports and key cultural events with The Canadian Press for six weeks in Toronto. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 13, 2017.

This award is open to Canadian photojournalists who have been in the business fewer than five years, including students and freelancers. Award criteria and application instructions, along with the online application form, are available on the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award page.

Last year's winner was Eduardo Lima, who joined Metro Toronto as a staff photographer shortly after his internship ended.

"The six-week internship at The Canadian Press was a great opportunity to work inside a wire and learn from experienced photographers," says Lima. "I finished the award experience knowing that I still have a lot to learn, but I also have a clearer idea of the kind of photojournalist I would like to be."

A report of Lima's experience, a sampling of photos taken while at The Canadian Press and his original portfolio submission can be found online.

Joining the jury this year is Michelle Siu, the 2012 award winner and now a documentary photographer and freelance photojournalist. "Michelle's greatest strengths are finding the story and human emotion in an image, so we look forward to her joining the jury and bringing a fresh perspective," says Graeme Roy, director of news photography for The Canadian Press. A full list of the jury—which includes members of Hanson's family and former photographer colleagues—can be found on the award criteria page.

The winner of the 2017 Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award will be announced in February. The award will be formally presented at the annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards on June 8, 2017 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

This award is generously supported by Nikon.

ABOUT THE TOM HANSON PHOTOJOURNALISM AWARD
#tomhansonaward
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and The Canadian Press launched the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award in 2009 in memory of award-winning photojournalist Tom Hanson. The award offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The selection committee is made up of CJF board members, photographers and photo editors from The Canadian Press and daily newspapers, past winners and members of Mr. Hanson's family. The winning applicant will complete the internship between April and September 2017, and be paid at the start rate for photographers at The Canadian Press.

ABOUT TOM HANSON
Tom Hanson was a photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut and thrust of Parliament told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images over a 15-year period. When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country's photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.

SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation

Image with caption: "Black Lives Matter activist Janaya Khan organizes a sit-in during the Trans Pride March in Toronto on July 1, 2016. This photo was captured by Eduardo Lima as part of his Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award internship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161201_C4910_PHOTO_EN_829634.jpg

For further information: Wendy Kan, Program Manager, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, [e-mail] or 416-955-0975; Graeme Roy, Director of News Photography, The Canadian Press, [e-mail] or 416-507-2167