Hannah Yoon Named Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award Winner

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and The Canadian Press are pleased to announce Hannah Yoon as this year's winner of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.

Yoon, a student in her final year at Loyalist College and a freelance photojournalist whose work has appeared in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, will be joining The Canadian Press for a six-week internship this summer.

"I am truly humbled and thankful for the opportunity I've been given by the judges," says Yoon. "This is an amazing opportunity for me as a new photographer. The skills and lessons at the wire are very particular, so I look forward to soaking in every moment."

The jury reviewed a number of submissions from early-career photojournalists before selecting Yoon.

"We were impressed by her portfolio because her photos capture the essence and nature of events and emotions, by focusing right to the point," says Heide Glorieux-Kaspar, a jury member and mother of the late Tom Hanson. "They are also very creative in their execution. It was a pleasure to view her work, and we wish Hannah great success and much happiness in the future. "

View Yoon's portfolio.

"Over the five years of this award, we have been consistently impressed by the high quality of submissions and the large pool of talent from which we select each year's recipient," says Graeme Roy, director of news photography at The Canadian Press. "We are grateful for the support we receive to continue this award in Tom's name and to be able to provide a unique experience for photojournalists looking to get a start in their careers. We feel very fortunate that we can continue offering compelling photography through the fresh perspectives of talent such as Hannah."

Yoon will be presented with the award at the 17th Annual CJF Awards on June 4, 2014 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

Selection Committee
Catherine Hanson, spouse of Tom Hanson
Heide Glorieux-Kaspar, mother of Tom Hanson
Graeme Roy, director of news photography, The Canadian Press
Frank Gunn, national photographer, The Canadian Press
Fred Chartrand, freelance photographer and former national photographer, The Canadian Press
Tony Caldwell, photographer, Ottawa Sun
Domenic Macri, art director, Report on Business
Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts, vice-chair, The Canadian Journalism Foundation

This award is generously supported by Nikon.

About the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award
The Canadian Journalism Foundation and The Canadian Press teamed up in 2009 to launch a new photojournalism award in memory of Tom Hanson, an award-winning photographer who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images of the last 15 years. The Tom Hanson Photojournalism 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.

SOURCE: Canadian Journalism Foundation

For further information:

Wendy Kan, Program Manager
The Canadian Journalism Foundation
[e-mail] or 416-955-0394 x502

Graeme Roy, Director of News Photography
The Canadian Press
[e-mail] or 416-507-2167