Media Advisory - Pre-show opps tomorrow: The Canadian Journalism Foundation
13th Annual Awards Gala

Honorees on hand during evening reception for limited interviews

TORONTO, June 9 /CNW/ - Former Le Devoir editor Lise Bissonnette and RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis are among the honorees attending the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) 13th Annual Awards Gala pre-show reception, held on June 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto.

The awards gala is the Canadian news industry's must-attend event, where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top newspeople. This year, the CJF celebrates its 20th anniversary and excitement surrounding the gala has reached an all-time high.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bissonnette by Chantal Hébert, while Lazaridis and fellow co-CEO Jim Balsillie will receive a special CJF Tribute. Peter Mansbridge hosts the gala dinner where prominent journalists, media executives, business and public sector leaders come together to celebrate excellence in journalism. The annual event caps off with the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Excellence Award in the large and small media categories.

    
    What:     13th Annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards Gala

    Where:    The Fairmont Royal York Hotel - Canadian Room -
              100 Front Street West

    Who:      Lise Bissonnette, former editor of Le Devoir
              Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, co-CEOs of Research in Motion
              Hosted by Peter Mansbridge, CBC News senior correspondent
              Canadian Journalism Foundation chair John Macfarlane

              Some of the prominent business, community and journalists
              expected to attend include: Andy Barrie, David Beers, Tony
              Burman, Andrew Coyne, John Cruickshank, Joe Fiorito, Sarah
              Fulford, Chantal Hébert, Kirk LaPointe, Linden MacIntyre,
              Carole MacNeil, Trina McQueen, Don Newman, Carol Off, Seamus
              O'Regan, Lloyd Robertson, Alison Smith, Mark Starowicz, John
              Stackhouse, Brian Stewart, Diana Swain, Anna Maria Tremonti and
              many more...

    When:     Thursday, June 10th
              Cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m.
              Awards ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m.
              Final presentation at 9:00 p.m.

    Why:      Important presentations throughout the evening include:
              -  Lifetime Achievement Award to Lise Bissonnette in honour of
                 her illustrious career as a former parliamentary
                 correspondent, editorialist and editor-in-chief of Le Devoir
              -  Special tribute to RIM co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike
                 Lazaridis for their contribution in revolutionizing the
                 technology of modern journalism
              -  Excellence in Journalism Award to two Canadian news outlets
              -  Presentation of the Canadian Journalism Fellowships, the
                 Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy, the Greg Clark Award
                 and the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award
    

Social media release for photos and videos: http://tinyurl.com/y9k4xkd

About the Canadian Journalism Foundation

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement through an annual awards program; by operating journalism websites, J-Source.ca (English) and ProjetJ.ca (French), in cooperation with the country's leading journalism schools; and by organizing events that facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, politicians, government officials and academics about the role of the media in Canadian society.

For further information: Media Contact information: Canadian Journalism Foundation, Heather McCall, Program Manager, Phone: [phone], Cell: [phone], [email protected]