Citizen wins five national newspaper awards in latest round of honours
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
On Monday, The Citizen was honoured with five 2026 Canadian Community Newsmedia Awards.
First, in the Best Spot News Photo Coverage category, retired Citizen photographer John Stephenson placed second with his front-page picture from the Lucknow Fall Fair last September. The circulation class for this award was for newspapers with a circulation of under 10,000.
“Great capture not realizing a dancer suddenly would defy gravity while performing on a city street during fall fair,” noted the judges. “Great anticipation while observing the dangers participating in a main street parade to capture this spot news image.”
Editor Shawn Loughlin also won silver in the Best News Feature Photo category for his photograph of an on-stage proposal as part of last year’s Blyth Festival season, published in August.
“A great photo taken at just the right angle to capture the couple’s faces and crowd reaction. Photographer also managed to balance the lighting well, balancing the on-stage lighting through the crowd, adding to the technical skill of this photo,” said the judges.
This award was also presented in a circulation class for newspapers with a circulation of under 10,000.
The Citizen also earned a third-place award in the Best Coverage of the Arts category for newspapers with a circulation of under 10,000. Stories submitted were Loughlin’s story on Daryl Graham’s Emmy Award win in September; his story on Jackie Falconer leading an ensemble at the Unison Festival, also in September; Scott Stephenson’s expansive coverage of the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in August; his story on Kelly Stevenson’s ongoing research of local artists forgotten to time, and his story on the Blyth Festival Art Gallery opening of “The Rural Queer Agenda” from June.
“A well-rounded collection of stories that demonstrated a genuine commitment to covering and promoting the local arts community,” said the judges. “The variety of coverage, strong writing and consistent community focus made this an enjoyable and deserving entry.”
The Citizen also placed third for its website - huroncitizen.ca - in the Best Community Newspaper Website category for newspapers with a circulation under 10,000.
Said the judges, The Citizen’s website is “a good example of a community news website that offers weekly updates focused on the community.”
Scott Stephenson also received a bronze medal in the Best Agricultural Story category for all of the country’s community newspapers, regardless of circulation class, for his portrait of the Verschaeve family and its dairy operation in May.
“A beautifully-written agricultural feature that captures the people, values and realities behind modern dairy farming,” said the judges. “Through strong storytelling and authentic voices, the article provides readers with an engaging and insightful portrait of life on a family farm.”
This comes after The Citizen earned two third-place finishes and two honorable mentions earlier this year in the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s Better Newspaper Awards. They honoured Scott Stephenson in the Humour Columnist of the Year and Best Sports Story categories and Loughlin with honorable mentions in the Best News and Best Spot News Photo categories.