PressProgress’ Original Journalism Covering Labour Issues and Conspiracy Groups Nominated For Two Awards

PressProgress has been nominated for a pair of awards recognizing its original investigative journalism covering labour issues and far-right conspiracy groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Online Publishing Awards recently released its 2020 finalists and will be announcing winners at its virtual awards ceremony on February 4.

PressProgress is a finalist in two categories.

PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun and reporters Mitchell Thompson, Alex Cosh, Emily Leedham and Stephen Magusiak are nominated for “best COVID-19 story coverage.”

PressProgress

Throughout the pandemic, PressProgress‘ COVID-19 Special Investigations series has broken major stories on workplace safety, corporate accountability and landlords threatening renters with eviction.

PressProgress‘ original journalism saw the hashtag #BoycottTimHortons trend on Twitter, caused Ontario Premier Doug Ford to introduce legislation temporarily banning employers from requesting doctor’s notes and compelled Tim Hortons to establish a $40 million fund for sick workers.

Some landlords backed off threats to evict struggling tenants and while provincial authorities launched formal investigations into other landlords in response to PressProgress‘ reporting.

PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun and reporter Mitchell Thompson are also finalists for “best investigative article or series” for their investigation into the origins of a mysterious group that first organized Canadian anti-lockdown protests in April.

Their reporting revealed none of the group’s senior members had ever met the group’s founder, who goes by multiple names and is linked to a company that sells special bracelets claiming to shield the human body from 5G cell phone signals.

PressProgress

PressProgress is a non-profit news organization with a critical focus on investigative journalism that holds the powerful accountable, exposes unsafe and unfair working conditions and shines a light on hate and bigotry.

But PressProgress  will be facing stiff competition — other finalists include talented journalists from major outlets like CBC News, Global News, HuffPost, as well as local and community publications like Victoria News, Taproot Edmonton, Cabin Radio and Ha-Shilth-Sa.

PressProgress is glad to be working alongside all of the finalists to bring important stories to the attention of the public during strange and difficult times.