HSA magazine takes top national award

At a national conference this weekend, the Canadian Association of Labour Media awarded its highest honour to The Report, the magazine for HSA members.

The Report won "Best Overall Publication" demonstrating the best combined use of writing, graphics, design, and editorial content and judgement.  The category includes all local, provincial, and national union publications produced by staff, including federations of labour across Canada

The issue submitted for adjudication was the October / November 2008 issue, which included a column by HSA President Reid Johnson opposing the gag law (Bill 42), coverage of HSA members' participation at the Summer Institute for Union Women, a story describing board members' involvement in the National Union's leadership institute, a story about the work of HSA's education committee,  an activist's opinion piece on interdisciplinary teams in health and community care, and a story on the health costs of poverty in BC. The issue also included regular columns on contract interpretation and pensions, as well as news items.

In recent years, CALM judges have recognized HSA with awards for best writing, excellence in layout and design, best feature article, and breaking barriers to encourage and widen union participation. Last year, for coverage of health and safety advocacy and the union's David Bland Award, judges awarded HSA the Muckraking Award for a communications initiative exposing anti-union or anti-social practice.