The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is a Canadian charity whose mission is to recognize excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines and Canadian digital publishing through two annual awards programs: the National Magazine Awards (NMAs) and the Digital Publishing Awards (DPAs).
Both events—The National Magazine Awards gala and the Digital Publishing Awards soirée—take place each June in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
. Each year the NMAF relies on over 100 volunteer judges to evaluate the entries and award gold and silver winners in the NMA written, visual, integrated and special categories and in the various DPA categories.
A 20-member board of directors mostly drawn from the Canadian media industry governs the NMAF. As of 2022, the president of the board of directors of the NMAF is Melony Ward, publisher of ''Canada’s History'' and ''Kayak''.
History
In 1976
Andrew MacFarlane, Dean of Journalism at the
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by resident ...
(UWO), was trying to revive the university's recently defunct President's Medal for Canadian Magazine Journalism. His original idea was to create a new award divided into English and French counterparts. But MacFarlane eventually developed a proposal for a series of magazine awards, whose salient features were that the program would be bilingual – and therefore truly national – and would recognize individual excellence in the many aspects of the magazine industry – writers, illustrators, editors, photographers and
art directors
Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
There is no generally agreed definition of what ...
.
MacFarlane together with
John S. Crosbie, president of the
Magazine Association of Canada
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combination ...
, secured the participation of the
Canadian Periodical Publishers Association
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
(CPPA), representing 193 Canadian magazines, and CPPA's former president
Michael de Pencier
Michael Christian de Pencier, (born January 19, 1935) is an entrepreneur, environmental investor, and publisher. He is the grandson of Archbishop Adam de Pencier and brother-in-law of Richard A. N. Bonnycastle.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, de Pen ...
. MacFarlane reached out to his counterpart at
Université Laval
Université Laval is a public research university in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The university was founded by royal charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1852, with roots in the founding of the Séminaire de Québec in 1663 by François de Montmo ...
,
Roger de la Garde
Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...
,
Alan Edmunds
Alan may refer to:
People
*Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname
*Alan (given name), an English given name
**List of people with given name Alan
''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.''
* A ...
, head of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (
PWAC), and veteran newsman
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC, O.Ont. (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a Canadian writer, journalist and broadcaster. Berton wrote 50 best-selling books, mainly about Canadiana, Canadian history and popular culture. He also wr ...
, among others. As the collective effort began to take shape across the country, by the spring of 1977 the National Magazine Awards had developed a clear mandate.
On 14 November 1977, National Magazine Awards Foundation received its charter of non-profit foundation status from the
Government of Ontario
The government of Ontario (french: Gouvernement de l'Ontario) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor ...
.
In 2015, the NMAF established the
Digital Publishing Awards, to promote and reward the achievements of those who create digital publishing content in Canada.
The National Magazine Awards celebrated 40 years of awarding Canadian creators in 2017. The 40th anniversary event was co-hosted by
Kim Pittaway,
Michael de Pencier
Michael Christian de Pencier, (born January 19, 1935) is an entrepreneur, environmental investor, and publisher. He is the grandson of Archbishop Adam de Pencier and brother-in-law of Richard A. N. Bonnycastle.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, de Pen ...
, and D.B. Scott. Alicia Elliott delivered the keynote address.
AS of 2022, the National Media Awards have been given to journalists, illustrators and photographers for 45 years.
First awards
There were more than 1300 entries to the first National Magazine Awards for the year 1977. 62 judges evaluated the entries and awarded winners in 14 categories. The first National Magazine Awards gala was held on Thursday, 11 May 1978 at the
Hotel Toronto.
Pierre Berton emceed the event, where the 660 guests dined and danced to Jack Collins and his five-piece band. Before presenting the awards, Berton proclaimed to the audience, "In a bold departure from tradition, there are to be no thank you speeches. We can do that because we are giving money, not some cheap statuette."
If any winner started to talk on stage, Berton reportedly waved a large hook in the speaker's direction.
Awards were handed down in 14 categories (with separate French- and English-language winners for the President's Award for General Magazine Articles). 11 different magazines won awards. The NMAF also honoured outstanding achievement by a magazine:
L'actualité
''L'actualité'' is a Canadian French-language news and general interest magazine published in Montreal by Rogers Communications until 2016, then by Mishmash (XPND Capital). The magazine has over a million readers, according to Canada's Print Measu ...
(French) and
Harrowsmith
''Harrowsmith Country Life'' was a magazine that explored and showcased country living. Originally called ''Harrowsmith'', the magazine was heralded as a back-to-the-land and environmental issues platform. In 1976, founder James M. Lawrence cut ...
(English) took the awards.
Major winners of the National Magazine Awards
The now-defunct ''
Saturday Night'' is the all-time leader in awards, with 129 gold awards. ''
Toronto Life
''Toronto Life'' is a monthly magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ''Toronto Life'' also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including ''Real Estate'', ''Stylebook'', ''Eatin ...
'' magazine leads all current publications with 108 gold awards. Writer
Robert Fulford is the all-time individual leader with 14 gold awards.
The NMAF also maintains
searchable archiveof all past winners an
talliesof magazines and creators who have won the most National Magazine Awards.
Categories
The NMAF has a total of 29 awards categories, including 10 categories from the Magazine Grands Prix program. There are 4 types of awards categories:
Written Categories & Visual Awards: Long-Form Feature Writing, Feature Writing, Short Feature Writing, Columns, Essays, Investigative Reporting, Fiction, Personal Journalism, Poetry, Professional Article, Profiles, Service Journalism, Best New Magazine Writer, Illustration (incl. Spot & Photo Illustration), Portrait Photography, Lifestyle Photography, Photo Essay & Photojournalism, One of a Kind Storytelling.
Editorial Awards: Best Editorial Package, Art Direction Grand Prix, Editor Grand Prix, Cover Grand Prix.
Grand Prix: Best Magazine Awards: General Interest, Service, Lifestyle, Fashion & Beauty, Art & Literary, Special Interest.
Special Awards: Magazine Grand Prix, Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Magazine of the Year
Each year the National Magazine Awards concludes with the naming of Canada's Magazine of the Year. Previous winners are:
*1982: ''
Equinox
A solar equinox is a moment in time when the Sun crosses the Earth's equator, which is to say, appears directly above the equator, rather than north or south of the equator. On the day of the equinox, the Sun appears to rise "due east" and se ...
''
*1983: ''
Vancouver Magazine
''Vancouver Magazine'' is an English-language lifestyle magazine focused on Vancouver, British Columbia and the Lower Mainland. ''Vancouver Magazine'' describes its mission as informing, guiding and entertaining residents of a "dynamic, internati ...
''
*1984: ''
Saturday Night''
*1985: ''
Toronto Life
''Toronto Life'' is a monthly magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ''Toronto Life'' also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including ''Real Estate'', ''Stylebook'', ''Eatin ...
''
*1986: ''
Quill & Quire
''Quill & Quire'' is a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry. The magazine was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, with a publisher-claimed readership of 25,000. ''Quill & Quire'' reviews ...
''
*1987: ''
Report on Business Magazine''
*1988: ''
Applied Arts Quarterly''
*1989: ''
Toronto Life
''Toronto Life'' is a monthly magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ''Toronto Life'' also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including ''Real Estate'', ''Stylebook'', ''Eatin ...
''
*1990: ''
West Magazine
''San Jose Mercury News West Magazine'', also referred to as ''West'' and ''West Magazine'', was a Sunday magazine published by ''San Jose Mercury News'' from 1982 to 1997. ''West Magazine'' received numerous awards and was recognized both for its ...
''
*1991: ''
Idler
The Idler refers to someone idle:
* An idle game
* A slacker, a person who habitually avoids work
* Idler-wheel, a system used to transmit the rotation of the main shaft of a motor to another rotating device
* Idler circuit, a circuit in a paramet ...
''
*1992: ''
Cottage Life
''Cottage Life'' is a Canadian magazine focusing on cottage lifestyle content. First published in the summer of 1988, the publication features how-to articles, buying guides, and tips on aspects of cottage living and lifestyle.
Formally published ...
''
*1993: ''
Owl
Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers a ...
'' and
Chickadee
The chickadees are a group of North American birds in the tit family included in the genus ''Poecile''. Species found in North America are referred to as chickadees, while other species in the genus are called tits.
They are small-sized birds ...
''
*1994: ''
Canadian Art
Canadian art refers to the visual (including painting, photography, and printmaking) as well as plastic arts (such as sculpture) originating from the geographical area of contemporary Canada. Art in Canada is marked by thousands of years of hab ...
''
*1995: ''
Canadian House & Home''
*1996: ''
Canadian Living
''Canadian Living'' is a monthly Canadian lifestyle magazine, which publishes articles relating to food, fashion, crafts, and health and family advice.
History and profile
The magazine was created by Clem Compton-Smith and his business partner, ...
''
*1997: ''
Vancouver Magazine
''Vancouver Magazine'' is an English-language lifestyle magazine focused on Vancouver, British Columbia and the Lower Mainland. ''Vancouver Magazine'' describes its mission as informing, guiding and entertaining residents of a "dynamic, internati ...
''
*1998: ''
Adbusters
The Adbusters Media Foundation is a Canadian-based Nonprofit organization, not-for-profit, Environmentalism, pro-environment organization founded in 1989 by Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz in Vancouver, British Columbia. Adbusters describes itself ...
''
*1999: ''
Chatelaine
Chatelaine may refer to:
* Chatelaine (chain), a set of short chains on a belt worn by women and men for carrying keys, thimble and/or sewing kit, etc.
*Chatelaine (horse), a racehorse
* ''Chatelaine'' (magazine), an English-language Canadian wom ...
''
*2000: ''
Azure
Azure may refer to:
Colour
* Azure (color), a hue of blue
** Azure (heraldry)
** Shades of azure, shades and variations
Arts and media
* ''Azure'' (Art Farmer and Fritz Pauer album), 1987
* Azure (Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell album), 2013
...
''
*2001: ''
Canadian Geographic
''Canadian Geographic'' is a magazine published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, (RCGS) based in Ottawa, Ontario.
History and profile
After the Society was founded in 1929, the magazine was established the next year in May 1930 unde ...
''
*2002: ''
Outpost Magazine
''Outpost Magazine'' is a Canadian adventure-travel publication based out of Toronto, Ontario. Published six times a year, it is known for its longform adventure narratives from across the world, often with a Canadian perspective.
History
The fi ...
''
*2003: ''
Border Crossings
''Border Crossings'' is a live, all-request, music-oriented radio show that is broadcast worldwide by the US government-operated Voice of America. Premiering on October 13, 1996, with Judy Massa as host, it is one of VOA's longest-running music p ...
''
*2004: ''
Maisonneuve''
*2005: ''
Maclean's
''Maclean's'', founded in 1905, is a Canadian news magazine reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events. Its founder, publisher John Bayne Maclean, established the magazine to provide a uniquely Canadian perspe ...
''
*2006: ''
The Walrus
''The Walrus'' is an independent, non-profit Canadian media organization. It is multi-platform and produces an 8-issue-per-year magazine and online editorial content that includes current affairs, fiction, poetry, and podcasts, a national s ...
''
*2007: ''
Toronto Life
''Toronto Life'' is a monthly magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ''Toronto Life'' also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including ''Real Estate'', ''Stylebook'', ''Eatin ...
''
*2008: ''
AlbertaViews''
*2009: ''
Up Here''
*2010: ''
MoneySense
''MoneySense'' is a Canadian online personal finance and lifestyle magazine published by Ratehub.
History and profile
''MoneySense'' was founded by Rogers Media in 1999 and started publishing in September 1999. It covers articles on personal fin ...
''
*2011: ''
Maisonneuve''
*2012: ''
Corporate Knights
Corporate Knights is a media and research company based in Toronto, Canada, focused on advancing a sustainable economy. The company publishes an award-winning magazine, ''Corporate Knights'', and produces global rankings, research reports, a ...
''
*2013: ''
Cottage Life
''Cottage Life'' is a Canadian magazine focusing on cottage lifestyle content. First published in the summer of 1988, the publication features how-to articles, buying guides, and tips on aspects of cottage living and lifestyle.
Formally published ...
''
*2014: ''
Nouveau Projet''
*2015:''
Maisonneuve''
*2016: ''
Cottage Life
''Cottage Life'' is a Canadian magazine focusing on cottage lifestyle content. First published in the summer of 1988, the publication features how-to articles, buying guides, and tips on aspects of cottage living and lifestyle.
Formally published ...
''
Outstanding Achievement
Each year since 1990 the NMAF has awarded the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, which recognizes an individual's innovation and creativity through contributions to the Canadian magazine industry. The winners since 1990 are:
*1990
Prue Hemelrijk
*1991
Michael de Pencier
Michael Christian de Pencier, (born January 19, 1935) is an entrepreneur, environmental investor, and publisher. He is the grandson of Archbishop Adam de Pencier and brother-in-law of Richard A. N. Bonnycastle.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, de Pen ...
*1992
Lloyd Hodgkinson
*1993
Barbara Moon
*1994
Don Obe
*1995
Jean Paré
Jean Paré, CM (December 7, 1927 – December 24, 2022) was a Canadian caterer, author of the '' Company's Coming'' cookbook series, and founder of Company's Coming Publishing Limited. She was one of the top-selling cookbook authors in t ...
*1996
Catherine Keachie
*1997
James Ireland
James Ireland (4 December 1846 – 29 June 1886) was a short-lived but productive 19th-century Scottish architect, specialising in schools.
Life
He was born on 4 December 1846 at Hawkhill Place in Dundee the son of George Ireland and his wife ...
*1998
Robert Fulford
*1999
Lynn Cunningham
*2000
Peter C. Newman
Peter Charles Newman (born May 10, 1929) is a Canadian journalist and writer.
Life and career
Born in Vienna, Austria, Newman emigrated from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee. His parents were Wanda Maria and O ...
*2001
Ken Rodmell
*2002
Al Zikovitz
AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for:
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media
* Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera
* Al (''Fullmetal ...
*2003
Sally Armstrong
*2004
Paul Jones
*2005
John Macfarlane
*2006
Neville Gilfoy
*2007
Charles Oberdorf
*2008
Cynthia Brouse
*2009
Terry Sellwood
Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine).
People
Male
* Terry Albritton (1955–2005), A ...
*2010
D.B. Scott
*2011
Heather Robertson Heather Margaret Robertson (March 19, 1942 – March 19, 2014) was a Canadian journalist, novelist and non-fiction writer. She published her first book, ''Reservations are for Indians'', in 1970, and her latest book, ''Walking into Wilderness'', ...
*2012
Stephen Trumper
*2013
Kim Jernigan
*2014
Michael Fox
*2015
Kim Pittaway
*2016
Penny Caldwell
Other information
The submissions process for the National Magazine Awards is generally open from December until the second week of January. Nominations are announced in the spring, and the awards gala is held in June in Toronto.
References
External links
National Magazine Awards
{{Authority control
Canadian journalism awards
Canadian non-fiction literary awards
Literary awards for magazines
Awards established in 1982
1982 establishments in Ontario