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2015 Atlantic Journalism Awards Finalists

Attachments



Slug/Label Steve Silva
Date Aired or Published various
Media outlet where first aired or published: n/a
Name of Program: n/a
If co-produced, list partner: n/a
Location: Halifax
List awards, grants: n/a
Running time (TV/Radio): 6:27 (multiple reports)

Short explanation of the story and how it developed:

Steve Silva came to Global Halifax from Global Regina, and although he is relatively new to the field, he is versatile and has a wealth of experience already, which includes time working at the CBC. Steve's storytelling helps to set him apart -- while facts are his bread and butter, he understands that modern audiences expect more from journalists, especially in the age of instant news on social media. The stories in his entry embody what he strives to achieve every day in his job: unique shots and interesting narratives that create a genuine human connection to the stories he tells. Information about the show of work reports (links with more information have been attached to the entry): - Wolf-coyote hybrid pack story: This story was a team effort initiated by newsroom producers. One of them knew of the farmer struggling with a pack of wolf-coyote hybrids attacking his animals, while another helped track down the other people who were interviewed. A fair bit of time was spent finding appropriate photos of the types of hybrids. This story was shot and edited by Silva. It required two days, and approximately six hours of driving to put together. - Missing sailor story: On November 28, the search for missing sailor Benoit Bilodeau was narrowed to an area where he would later be found dead (weeks after the report aired). After several calls and being bounced from spokesperson to spokesperson, Silva was allowed inside 12 Wing Shearwater. On weekends the station is staffed with only a videojournalist and camera operator who are tasked with gathering as much news as possible, which meant Silva had limited support. The story deadline was also an hour earlier than is typical because weekend shows are pre-recorded. - Richard Denton returns story: A Nova Scotia couple stranded in the U.K. due to financial reasons returned to Canada shortly before Christmas thanks to donations from a community. Silva was at the airport for their midnight arrival to shoot it. He returned to the station to write a short version of the story for Global's morning newscasts. He went home around 2 a.m. and returned at 9:30 a.m. for his regular shift. The biggest challenge was crafting a story that would remain relevant by 6 p.m. the next day. To accomplish this, Silva did not lead with the reunion itself, which many people had alreadt watched on the Morning News and online, but instead told a story with a beginning, middle and end.

Resources of the newsroom (money and time) available to complete the story:

Note from Global Halifax News Director Jim Haskins: Steve Silva is very deserving of The Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award. Steve is very well educated, with two degrees in journalism, including one from Columbia. Steve has taken what he learned in the classroom and transferred it to great use in the field. He is an excellent videographer, editor and storyteller. His stories are often told from a less-than-obvious standpoint, making them very watchable and memorable at the same time. Steve is driven, determined and a great asset to our news team.

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