HALIFAX, April 6 /CNW/ - The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2009 AJAs. The finalists' names are listed in alphabetical order by last name in 30 separate categories.

The awards will be presented during the gala event at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel on Saturday evening, May 8, 2010.

Spot News - Print

    - Tera Camus - The Chronicle Herald, (Cape Breton Bureau) - Chaos Erupts
      into Full Attack
    - The Canadian Press (Atlantic Bureau) - Halifax, NS - Chopper Crash
    - Beverley Ware - The Chronicle Herald (South Shore Bureau) - Mommy Don't

    Spot News - Radio

    - CBC Radio - Halifax, NS - Spryfield Fire
    - CBC News - Newfoundland and Labrador - Cougar Helicopter Crash
    - VOCM News - Newcap Radio Inc. - St. John's, NL - Cougar Helicopter
      Crash

    Spot News - Television

    - CBC Television Newsroom, Halifax, NS - Ferguson's Cove Fire
    - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Cougar Helicopter Crash
    - Peter Cowan - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Endangered Hunt

    Enterprise Reporting - Print

    - Matthieu Aikins - The Coast, Halifax, NS - Unembedded in Afghanistan
    - Rob Linke - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Fundy Forewarning
    - Michael Tutton - The Canadian Press, Halifax, NS - Nova Scotia
      Residence Abuse

    Enterprise Reporting - Radio

    - Bob Murphy/Margot Brunelle - CBC Radio, Halifax, NS - The Case of
      Kimberly McAndrew
    - Pauline Dakin - CBC Radio, Halifax, NS - The Forgotten Cancer
    - Wendy Martin/Christina Harnett - CBC Cape Breton - Trouble in Paradise

    Enterprise Reporting - Television

    - Rod Etheridge - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Cancer Emails
    - Deanne Fleet - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Bishop Porn
      Stories
    - Kayla Hounsell - CTV Atlantic, Halifax, NS - Drinking After Dark

    Continuing Coverage - Print

    - Tim Bousquet - The Coast, Halifax, NS - Halifax's Broken Sewage Plant
    - Marty Klinkenberg - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Accident
      Aftermath
    - The Telegram Newsroom - St. John's, NL - Cougar Helicopter Crash and
      Aftermath

    Continuing Coverage - Radio

    - Julien Lafille - Radio-Canada, St. John's, NL- Embargo européen sur la
      chasse aux phoques
    - Joan Weeks - CBC Cape Breton - Hector Hinkley's Brain Cancer Meds
    - VOCM News - Newcap Radio Inc., St. John's NL - Cougar Helicopter Crash

    Continuing Coverage - Television

    - Elizabeth Chiu - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Fountain Suicide
    - Paul Withers - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Mr. Keddy's Cheque
    - Paul Withers - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Sewage Disaster

    Feature Writing - Print

    - Tim Bousquet - The Coast, Halifax, NS - Doolittle, Darwin and the
      Deeply Dumb
    - Stephen Kimber - The Coast, Halifax, NS - Who is Darrell Dexter
    - Andrew McGilligan - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Long Journeys
      Home

    Feature Writing - Radio

    - Myfanwy Davies/Christina Harnett - CBC Radio, Halifax, NS - A Light in
      Dark Places -The John McKendy Story
    - Heather Barrett/Karen Levine - CBC Radio, St. John's, NL - My Own
      Private Twillingate
    - Mary Lynk - CBC Radio, Halifax, NS - Shane Earle

    Feature Writing - Television

    - Lee Pitts - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador -Village of Hope
    - Lee Pitts - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Rwanda: 15 Years
      Later
    - Chris O'Neill-Yates - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Lucas'
      Story

    Online News Reporting:

    - CBC - www.cbc.ca/nl, Newfoundland and Labrador - Cougar Helicopter
      Crash Coverage

    Business Reporting - Any Medium

    - Alec Bruce - Atlantic Business Magazine, St. John's, NL - Leaders of
      the Pack
    - Judy Myrden - The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS - Racing With the Tides
    - Melanie Nagy/Keith Whelan - CBC Television, Newfoundland and Labrador -
      Seal Hunt

    Sports Reporting - Any Medium

    - Catherine Harrop - CBC Television, Fredericton, NB - Hockey Fight &
      Hockey Follo
    - Marty Klinkenberg - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - For the Love of
      the Game
    - Matt Veno - Truro Daily News, Truro, NS - A Blessing in Disguise

    Arts & Entertainment Reporting - Any Medium

    - Sue Carter Flinn - The Coast, Halifax, NS - On the Laugh Track
    - Rob Doublett/Norma Jean MacPhee - CBC Cape Breton - Jerry Holland
      Obituary
    - Kate Wallace - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Fred Ross Profile

    Commentary - Any Medium

    - Eleanor Beaton - Atlantic Business Magazine, St. John's, NL - The Case
      Against Protectionism
    - Dan Leger -The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS - Lahey Scandal; Huge Blow
      to Church Credibility
    - Eric Marks - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Humble Spirit; Mighty
      Heart

    Video Journalist - Television

    - Chris Corday - CBC Television, Saint John, NB - Show of work
    - Gary Mansfield - CBC Television, Sydney, NS - Show of work
    - Lee Pitts - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Show of work

    Photojournalism Spot News - Print

    - Noel Chenier - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Dwarfed by Fire
    - Joe Gibbons - The Telegram, St. John's, NL - Dramatic Rescue
    - Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post, Sydney, NS - Fire Rescue on Roof

    Photojournalism Spot News - Television

    -Peter Cowan - CBC News, Newfoundland and Labrador - Endangered Hunt
    -Edwin Hunter - CBC Television, Fredericton, NB - Grand Falls Fire
    -Steve Lawrence - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Purcell's Cove Fire

    Photojournalism Feature - Print

    - Greg Agnew - Moncton Times & Transcript - Heels over Head
    - Noel Chenier - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Mother's Share Loss
    - Stephen MacGillivray - The Daily Gleaner, Fredericton, NB - Cow Lick

    Photojournalism Feature - Television

    - Kevin Barnett - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Kidnapped Turtle
    - Chris Corday - CBC Television, Saint John, NB - Right Whales
    - Steve Lawrence - CBC Television, Halifax, NS - Thrill Seekers

    Editorial Cartooning

    - Michael de Adder - Times & Transcript - Show of work
    - Bruce MacKinnon - The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS - Show of work
    - Wayne Wright - Journal Pioneer, Summerside, PEI - Show of work

    Atlantic Magazine - Best Article

    - Alec Bruce - Atlantic Business Magazine, St. John's, NL - The Oracle of
      Atlantic Canada
    - Gloria Hickey - East Coast Living, Halifax, NS - Divine Intervention
    - Progress Magazine - Halifax, NS - Annual People We Love Feature

    Atlantic Magazine - Best Cover

    - Halifax Magazine - Halifax, NS - October 2009 cover - Take Flight
    - East Coast Living - Halifax, NS - Fall 2009 cover - The Simple Life
    - Atlantic Salmon Journal - Chamcook, NB - Spring 2009 cover - Cycle of
      Life

    Atlantic Magazine - Best Profile Article

    - Eleanor Beaton - Atlantic Business Magazine, St. John's, NL -The Fast
      Times of Rob Sobey
    - Barry Boyce - Shambhala Sun Magazine, Halifax, NS - Fifty Years on the
      Razor's Edge
    - Jon Tattrie - Progress Magazine, Halifax, NS - Back to the Land

    Best Page Presentation -Newspapers

    - Nadine Fownes - The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS - Saturday, January
      31, 2009 -Justice for Karissa Boudreau
    - Angie Kippers - Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB - Saturday, February
      14, 2009 - Fresh Perspectives
    - Brad Works - Amherst Daily News, Amherst, NS - Wednesday, June 10, 2009
      - NDP Win Provincial Election

    Community Reporting:

    - Lisa Brown - Bridgewater Bulletin, Bridgewater, NS - Murder in a Small
      Town

    The Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award

    - Laura Fraser - The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS - Show of work
    - Natalie Kalata - CBC News - Newfoundland and Labrador - Show of work
    - Teresa Wright - The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI - Show of work

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron Ennis' career spans 42 years of dedication to community journalism in Atlantic Canada. He moved from proof-reader to reporter to editor and managing editor of a portfolio of 17 community newspapers in Newfoundland with weekly circulation exceeding 100,000.

Each finalist will receive a framed AJAs Certificate of Excellence in Journalism. One of the finalists in each category will be honoured as the overall Gold Award winner.

This year, in partnership with CNW Group, the AJAs proudly presents a series of professional development workshops being presented during the day on May 8, 2010, at the Halifax Harbourfront Marriott Hotel. Upon completion, each workshop attendee will receive a personalized certificate of merit suitable for framing.

To purchase TICKETS, and for WORKSHOPS admission and information, go to www.AJAs.ca and click on the corresponding buttons, or call Annette (902) 425-2727.