Two journalists from To have to received top honors at the Canadian Newspaper Competition on Friday evening for their series of reports detailing the ravages of domestic violence in Quebec and the measures to be taken to better support victims.
Investigative journalist Améli Pineda and her colleague Magdaline Boutros received the E. Cora Hind Prize for Specialized Journalism during the unveiling of the winners of the prestigious annual competition. They also received the highest honor of the competition, which crowned them “journalists of the year”; it was the first time that this prize had been awarded to a pair of journalists.
“What spectacular recognition of the investigative work and journalistic sensitivity of these two exceptional journalists! They fully deserve the title of journalists of the year for having followed their instincts, immersed themselves in important social subjects and really made a difference thanks to their journalistic coverage”, reacted in writing the editor-in-chief of the To have toMarie-Andrée Chouinard.
Their reports notably highlighted, in March 2021, the flaws in the judicial system with regard to domestic violence cases. The moving testimonies collected by the two journalists from victims have made it possible to document the extent of the obstacles and suffering encountered by women who try to flee a spouse or ex-spouse who often has a heavy criminal past. The year 2021 was also marked by 17 feminicides, compared to eight the previous year.
“The inquest not only demonstrated how the justice system has failed victims of domestic violence, it also underscored the urgency of correcting these tragic shortcomings when domestic violence erupts nationwide. “, remarked the judges. They also underlined that “their work on femicide and its ramifications, especially for children left behind, reminded us that living without fear is a broken promise for many”, thus playing an important role raising awareness among the population and public authorities.
“It’s an extraordinary accomplishment, worthy of your talent and your dedication to journalism that makes a difference. The notion of combat, dear to To have tois very much alive”, for his part reacted on Twitter the editor of the Montreal daily, Brian Myles.
❤️WOW! Journalists of the Year! @magdaboutros and @AmeliPineda, savor this moment. It is an extraordinary accomplishment, worthy of your talent and your dedication to journalism that makes a difference. The notion of combat, dear to @The duty, is alive and well. https://t.co/uEH6xrWYE9
— Brian Myles (@brianmyles) May 7, 2022
The duty was among the six media – out of the 19 press organizations represented – with finalists in more than one of the 22 categories of this annual competition. Mme Boutros was notably a finalist for a series of reports produced last year in Pakistan, on the sidelines of the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as in the “sustained report” category, alongside his colleague Ulysse Bergeron, for their imposing research work on the violence perpetrated within the Quebec Catholic Church.