André Vieniot, accepts the 1994 Michener Citation of Merit from Governor General Roméo LeBlanc on behalf of The Telegraph Journal.
The Saint John newspaper received the award for the precedent-setting tribute by an English language newspaper to New Brunswick's 30,000 francophones. The First World Acadian Congress was held in Moncton last year attended by several hundred thousand. Telegraph Journal reporters visited Acadian exiles in Louisiana and Massachusetts for numerous feature stories, profiled the original Acadian families and repeated much of the material in a special supplement for the congress.
The award was presented during a ceremony held at Rideau Hall, May 12, 1995.
The distinction between this and other media awards is primarily the emphasis on the degree of arms-length public benefit that is generated. Journalistic excellence alone is not enough. Other criteria include the resources available to the news organizations, an effort to level the playing field for small, medium and large applicants.