Telegraph-Journal takes gold, silver prize at journalism awards

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Three Brunswick News reporters were recognized for their work at the Atlantic Journalism Awards in Dartmouth, N.S., Saturday night.

Reporters Andrew Bates and Barbara Simpson took home gold in the category of civic affairs reporting for a series of stories on St. Stephen declaring a state of emergency over homelessness.

In December, St. Stephen council took this extraordinary step after first responders were called to a park for a medical emergency. 41-year-old Adam Dickerson, who was homeless, later died in hospital from a drug-related heart attack, according to his family.

Public Safety Minister Kris Austin would end St. Stephen’s state of emergency two days later, slamming town council for using the power frivolously.

Bates and Simpson worked together to tell this unfolding story from both the municipal and provincial angles.

Also on Saturday night, Brunswick News reporter Kevin Barrett received silver in the category of photojournalism for his celebratory shot of the Saint John Alpines.

The team, who had been favoured to win the provincial junior baseball championship, fell early behind the Chatham Ironmen in their winner-take-all final game in Saint John on a warm August evening at Memorial Field.

The Alpines slowly chipped away, but given the score, Barrett positioned himself on the Chatham side of the field ready for the Ironmen celebrations. However, the Alpines rallied to take the lead in the sixth and a large gathering of fans packed their side of the field.

Left to attempt a photo from his original position when the Alpines won, Barrett darted through the players and caught a moment of unbridled joy as the Alpines charged the mound to celebrate this dramatic turn of fortunes with their pitcher, with one player spraying water to give it a champagne-look of celebration, while another jumped to meet the pitcher in mid-air.

“We are proud of our colleagues for their achievement tonight,” said Brunswick News editor-in-chief Jackson Doughart. “This is great recognition of their work and a sign of the impact of our journalism. Congratulations to Kevin, Barbara and Andrew.”

This award-winning shot represents Barrett’s third silver prize over the course of his career, while Bates and Simpson were recognized for the first time at the AJAs.