In 2017, the Slaight Family Foundation launched the inaugural Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism to celebrate journalistic achievements by writers in The Walrus. The $10,000 prize was a bold statement of support for the important contribution being made by independent journalists in researching, analyzing, and writing about some of the important topics affecting our lives.
On January 23, 2019, the $10,000 Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism was awarded to Danielle Groen for the most outstanding article published in The Walrus in 2018. The prize supports journalists in pursuing compelling stories of social import.
In “Bad Code,” Danielle Groen explores how AI has turned out to be as sexist and racist as the humans who invented it—and meets some researchers trying to address the problem before it gets any worse.
Danielle Groen is a National Magazine Award-winning writer and editor whose work has appeared in The Walrus, the Globe and Mail, Reader’s Digest, National Post, Flare, Toronto Life, and Report on Business, among other publications. She was a senior editor at the internationally recognized city weekly the Grid, and the features director at Chatelaine, Canada’s largest women’s media brand. She lives in Toronto.
The 2018 Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism Shortlist:
“Unwelcome to Canada” by Kamal Al-Solaylee
“How We Made AI as Racist and Sexist as Humans” by Danielle Groen
“Why I Developed a Roll of Film I Found on the Curb” by Christine Estima
The winner was selected by the following jury:
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Stephen Kimber, professor of journalism at the University of King’s College, award-winning writer, editor, and broadcaster, and member of The Walrus Educational Review Committee. |
Chethan P. Lakshman, vice-president of external affairs at Shaw Communications, former journalist, Walrus Foundation board member, and Optimistic Canadian. |
Elizabeth Renzetti, columnist at the Globe and Mail, reporter, editor, and Walrus Talks speaker. |
Alicia Elliott, writer, essayist, editor, winner of the 2018 RBC Taylor Emerging Writer Award. |
The longlisted stories for the 2018 Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism were announced in November, 2018:
“What Consent Means in the Age of #MeToo” by Sarah Barmak
“Chrystia Freeland Wants to Fix the Twenty-First Century” by Simon Lewsen
“Unwelcome to Canada” by Kamal Al-Solaylee
“How We Made AI as Racist and Sexist as Humans” by Danielle Groen
“My Life and Death on Opioids” by Chris Willie
“The New Old Age” by Sandra Martin
“Bill Morneau May Be Rich—That Doesn’t Make Him Corrupt” by Justin Ling
“The End of an Empire” by Stephen Marche
“Why I Developed a Roll of Film I Found on the Curb” by Christine Estima
“Inside the Toronto Star’s Bold Plan to Save Itself” by Brett Popplewell
The Walrus gratefully acknowledges the Slaight Family Foundation for their leadership in establishing this prize and their support of our work through the Allan Slaight Writers’ Fund since 2009.
About the Slaight Family Foundation
Established in 2008, the Slaight Family Foundation is committed to making a difference. The foundation supports projects at local and international levels related to health care, social service, arts and culture as well as at-risk children and youth. The Slaight Family Foundation undertakes bold new approaches to philanthropy to increase impact and improve the lives of those in need at home and abroad.
About Allan Slaight
Allan Slaight is one of Canada’s pre-eminent entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Among other things, Allan created Canada’s largest privately owned multi-media company, Standard Broadcasting and was instrumental in bringing the Raptors (and the Air Canada Centre) to Toronto. His community works include having served as the chair of the United Way of Greater Toronto and the Shaw Festival. As Allan was a radio news director early in his career, he is pleased to support serious journalism through the Allan Slaight Writers Fund at The Walrus (created in 2009) and now the Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism.
For more information about the Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism please contact Aimée Ippersiel at aimee@thewalrus.ca or 416-971-5004, ext. 237.
The shortlisted stories for the 2017 Allan Slaight Prize for Journalism were:
“Peace Be Upon You” by Nadim Roberts
“Dating While Black” by Hadiya Roderique
“Forced Confessions” by Ben Travers
“Pleasure Principal” by Sarah Barmak
“The Grifter” by Michael Lista
“Head Games” by Brett Popplewell
“Second Coming” by Joel Barde
“Overhauled” by Sharon J. Riley
“Old Masters” by Emily Urquhart
“Finding the Right Words” by Derek Webster