Goff Penny Awards

The Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prizes for Young Canadian Journalists were established in 1991 at the bequest of the estate of the late Arthur G. Penny, grandson of Edward Goff Penny. The first awards were presented in 1992.

Arthur G. Penny, a former newspaper editor in the early 1920s with the old Quebec Chronicle and later a Quebec civil servant, died in 1963. In his last will and testament, he left provisions that, upon the death of his wife and son, two prizes for young journalists should be established in memory of his grandfather, Edward Goff Penny.

The Hon. Edward Goff Penny rose from the position of reporter at the Montreal Herald in the late 1800s to editor and publisher. He was the first president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa and in 1874 became the first newspaper reporter to be appointed to the Senate.

The winners are in keeping with the terms of the bequest - between the ages 20 and 25 and from each of two circulation categories: under 25,000 and over 25,000. Prize money is $1,500 for each category.

Judging

Entries are judged by four senior editors chosen by the Editorial Division Committee. Each judge is asked to rate the candidates on the basis of 100 points - 25 each for: Purity of language and excellence of style Interest of subject Forcefulness or persuasiveness of presentation Depth or originality of thought. Those scores are then tallied in Toronto to determine the winner.

2010 Entry Deadline

January 21, 2011, for works created in 2010. Eligible to compete are staff or freelance journalists between the ages 20-25. There is no entry fee. Entrants are asked to submit four examples of their work which have appeared in CNA-member newspapers.

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Previous Winners

Under 25,000 circulation:

• 1991 - Paul Grant, Peterborough (ON) Examiner
• 1992 - Nicole Adams, Prince Albert (SK) Daily Herald
• 1993 - Cheryl Belzner, Chatham (ON) Daily News
• 1994 - Sean Silcoff, Cornwall (ON) Standard-Freeholder
• 1995 - Sean Silcoff, Cornwall (ON) Standard-Freeholder
• 1996 - Steve Walters, Simcoe (ON) Reformer
• 1997 - Rachel Evans, Lloydminster Daily Times
• 1998 - Kalvin Reid, The Simcoe Reformer (ON)
• 1999 - Cherri Greeno, Woodstock Sentinel-Review (ON)
• 2000 - Amanda Thibeault, The Simcoe Reformer (ON)
• 2001 - Karen Snider, Peterborough Examiner (ON)
• 2002 - Lee Berthiaume, Woodstock Sentinel-Review (ON)
• 2003 - Deirdre Healey, Woodstock Sentinel-Review (ON)
• 2004 - Matthew Van Dongen, The Standard
• 2005 - Greg Mercer, Guelph Mercury (ON)
• 2006 - Elisabeth Johns, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
• 2007 - Rachel Mendleson, The Daily News
• 2008 - Corina Milic, Sault Star
• 2009 - Nicole O'Reilly, The Guelph Mercury

Over 25,000 circulation:

• 1991 - Susanne Craig, Windsor (ON) Star
• 1992 - Carolyn Abraham, Ottawa (ON) Citizen
• 1993 - Carolyn Abraham, Ottawa Citizen
• 1994 - Shawn Ohler, Edmonton (Alta) Journal
• 1995 - Shawn Ohler, Edmonton (Alta) Journal, and Elena Cherney, Montreal (QC) Gazette
• 1996 - Elena Cherney, Montreal (QC) Gazette
• 1997 - Michelle Shephard, The Toronto Star
• 1998 - Luiza Chwialkowska, National Post (ON)
• 1999 - Chris Jones, National Post
• 2000 - Luiza Chwialkowska, National Post
• 2001 - Aaron Sands, Ottawa Citizen
• 2002 - Graeme Smith, The Globe and Mail
• 2003 - Joseph Brean, National Post
• 2004 - Greg McArthur
• 2005 - Caroline Touzin, LaPresse
• 2006 - Katie Lewis, Ottawa Citizen
• 2007 - Omar El Akkad, The Globe and Mail
• 2008 - James Bradshaw, The Globe and Mail
• 2009 - Daniel Dale, Toronto Star