Call For Submissions – Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award
Applications for the third annual Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award are now being accepted online. Canadian photojournalists who have been in the business less than five years – from students to freelancers to photographers working at regional publications – are encouraged to submit their portfolios for consideration. The deadline for submissions is January 8, 2012.
Last year’s winner, Aaron Vincent Elkaim, completed a six-week internship with The Canadian Press at their head office in Toronto earlier this year. During his internship he covered many national news events, including Jack Layton’s memorial and the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as sporting events such as the Rogers Cup tennis tournament and Toronto FC soccer. After the internship was over, Elkaim continued to freelance for CP during the Ontario provincial leadership election.
“I got the front page of The Globe and Mail two days in a row,” says Elkaim. “It was just the affirmation of my efforts that I needed. You learn quickly in this business that you usually only get feedback when you’ve screwed up!”
Elkaim is currently working on a grant project in the Alberta oil sands and will return to Toronto to freelance for The Canadian Press and other news outlets later this year. His full report, including select images from his internship experience, is available online.
After two years of outstanding submissions, it will be interesting to see what this year’s competition turns up, says Graeme Roy, Director of News Photography at The Canadian Press.
“The bar has been set, but I’m confident there are still many outstanding young photojournalists out there with the skill and determination to succeed on the national scale given the opportunity,” says Roy. “We’re looking forward to discovering some new talent this year.”
Finalists for the 2012 Tom Hanson Award will be interviewed by the selection committee in January with a winner announced in February, 2012. The award will be presented at the Canadian Journalism Foundation Annual Awards Gala on June 7, 2012.
