Applications now being accepted for fifth annual Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award

TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Applications are being accepted online as the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award enters its fifth year. 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 Jan. 9, 2014. Complete award criteria and application instructions, along with the online application form, are available at http://cjf-fjc.ca/awards_tomhanson.

"The Canadian Press is proud to have fostered talent for five years," says Graeme Roy, director of news photography at The Canadian Press. "This is a tough business and for those starting out in photojournalism, this award offers a unique opportunity to hone skills and get national exposure."

Last year's winner, freelancer Galit Rodan, spent six weeks in the summer interning at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto. Her experience included shooting news, sports and cultural events, often alongside veteran CP photographers—a highlight of the experience. "I was able to see how they approached the challenge of getting a great shot while under intense time constraints," said Rodan. "I was often simultaneously exhausted and energized. It was a great feeling." Rodan's report on her internship and the photos she took during her experience can be found online.

The winner of the 2014 Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award will be announced in February. The award will be presented at the 17^th Annual Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards on June 4, 2014 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

This award is generously supported by Nikon.

ABOUT THE TOM HANSON PHOTOJOURNALISM AWARD
#tomhansonaward
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and The Canadian Press launched the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award in 2009 in memory of award-winning photojournalist Tom Hanson. The award offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The selection committee is made up of CJF board members, photographers and photo editors from The Canadian Press and daily newspapers and members of Mr. Hanson's family. The winning applicant will complete the internship between April and September, 2014, and be paid a salary equivalent of the start rate for photographers at The Canadian Press.

ABOUT TOM HANSON
Tom Hanson was a photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut-and-thrust of Parliament told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images of the last 15 years. When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country's photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.

SOURCE: Canadian Journalism Foundation