Prince George Citizen reporter Frank Peebles has been nominated for a Ma Murray Community Newspaper Award.
The nomination from the B.C./Yukon Community Newspaper Association recognized Peebles' editorial, Take a Look in the Mirror, which focused on the community reaction to gang violence in the wake of the Darren Munch murder.
Also nominated for a Black Family Editorial Award is the Chilliwack Times' Tyler Olsen (Weeding Out the Bad Guys) and the Kamloops Daily News' Mel Rothenburger (Let's Talk Facts on Rail-Tie Plant).
"This nomination is a kind of a way of keeping the issue of gang violence alive," said Peebles. "I am most happy about that. Today's edition of the paper has a story about gunfire on Moyie Street. It happened because of gang activity, and it happened four blocks from the place Darren Munch was murdered.
"The issue is still very dynamic, but it is wrong to say things haven't changed. Things have gotten better, the community is more engaged, progress is being made, and every time a trigger gets pulled or someone disappears, it reminds us again why we have to keep shining the lights as brightly as we can on gangs."
This is the fourth time Peebles has been a Ma Murray finalist. He won first place finishes in 1997 and 1998. He was also a silver medalist for arts coverage at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards in 1999.
To read the nominated piece, visit bit.ly/frwEk5.
The BCYCNA's Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards have recognized excellence in journalism and newspapers for over 80 years.
The winner will be announced at an event at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond on Sat. April 30.
