Photographer Louie Palu's advice: Be creative and persistent. Photo by Dave Chidley.
In his address to Conestoga College journalism students at their annual gala last night, award-winning photographer Louie Palu said they must be inventive, creative and dogged in the pursuit of their chosen vocation — and never to accept “no” as an answer on stories they yearn to cover.
“This is the most exciting time ever to be a journalist,” Palu said, citing the endless possibilities emerging for creative and persistent storytellers. “There are no limits” to what can be done online, in print and in broadcasting, just as there are myriad possibilities in terms of the tools journalists can use to do their work.
Through his own still photos and video, Palu described his career path from a member of his high school’s camera club, through the mining industry of Northern Ontario, the battlefields of Afghanistan, the confines of Guantanamo Bay, the corridors of power at the White House, and other settings in which he’s gathered the images that have been seen around the world. Many of the most memorable, he said, required him to push beyond the initial “no” of editors, military officers, politicians and others who, at first, didn’t appreciate his storytelling objectives.
Though he was a staff photographer at the Globe and Mail for six years, Palu credited the CBC and the Toronto Star for helping him become a truly multimedia journalist. He is now equally at home with still photography, videography and writing as storytelling modes.
The student winners of last night’s awards, as judged by industry professionals in the Waterloo Region, were:
1. The Cambridge Times Award for Best News Photo: Amanda Baines (winner); Lisa Olsen (honourable mention)
2. The Cambridge Times Award for Best Feature Photo: Marcus Matthew
3. Guelph Mercury Award for Best News Story: Lisa Olsen
4. NOW Media Best Videography Award: Nathan Cox
5. Faculty Award for Best Writing by a Student in Year 1: Lindsay Johnston
6. Faculty Award for Most Promising Videographer: Dan Whyte
7. School of Media and Design Best Reporting Award: Alex Cooke
8. CJOY/Magic FM News Radio Announcing Award: Roslyn Wheaton
9. The News Photographers Association of Canada Best Sports Photo: Ashley Idle (winner); Thomas Parent (honourable mention)
10. Rogers Best Television Report Award: Nathan Cox
11. CTV Southwestern Ontario Digital Media Award: Peter Kovacs
12. Goderich Signal-Star Award for Best Opinion Writing: Marcus Matthew
13. 570 News Radio Reporting Award: Samantha Fitzsimmons
14. Faith FM Radio Feature or Documentary Award: Patrick Finnigan
15. Edward J. Hayes Award for Best Feature Story: Thomas Parent
16. Most Promising Newswriter, First Year Journalism Print: Elissa denHoed
17. Most Promising Newswriter, First Year Journalism Broadcast: Michael Cottrill
18. Most Promising New Media Journalist: Wei-Lon Lee
19. Best News Reporting, Videography: Leeanna McClean and Asia Skilandziunas
20. Waterloo Chronicle Best Arts/Entertainment Story Award: Ashley Idle (winner); Gerald Upton (honourable mention)
21. Ross Weichel Award for Best Editorial: Ashley Idle (winner); Robert Conte (honourable mention), Lisa Olsen (honourable mention)
22. Best Feature Story, Videography: Leeanna McClean
23. School of Media and Design Best Videography Award: Peter Kovacs
24. Carl Fletcher Award for Best Sports Reporter: Ryan Young
25. Ken MacKenzie Memorial Bursary: Craig Hennessey
26. Andy Dugan Memorial Award for Most Dedicated Student: Ashley Idle
27. Alumni Association Award of Excellence, Journalism Print: Marcus Matthew
28. Alumni Association Award of Excellence, Journalism Broadcast: Patrick Finnigan
29. Alumni Association Award of Excellence, Videography-Broadcast Journalism/Documentary: Peter Kovacs
30. CTV Southwestern Ontario Broadcast Journalist of the Year: Hilary Eastmure
31. Waterloo Region Record Award for Journalist of the Year: Amanda Baines
32. Rogers All-News Radio Stations Student Academic Grants: Maria Torriente, Brigitte Szucs
33. Rogers All-News Radio Station Student Scholarships: Hilary Eastmure, Patrick Finnigan, Nathan Cox
Students in the second-year broadcast journalism class. Photo by Dave Chidley.
Students in the second-year print journalism class. Photo by Dave Chidley.
