STAFF OF THE Nation’s Editorial Department were rewarded and feted recently for their hard work and dedication throughout 2014.
On the last day of the year, members of the department were joined by staff from other departments who would have contributed to their success to toast the crème de la crème.
Flanked by members of the company’s senior management team, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of the Nation Publishing Co. Limited, Vivian-Anne Gittens told staff that the company looks to them to put out the best product that represents what it stands for.
The CEO praised the department for upholding “all the tenets of good journalism during 2014”.
“We respect that the craft of journalism is special. We recognise that there have been significant sacrifices throughout the year.”
Gittens spoke highly of the inroads made through the Nation’s online products and challenged staff to become more versatile.
Her sentiments were echoed during a brief departmental report from Editor-In-Chief Roy Morris.
“Without doubt 2014 has been a tough a year and 2015 will also be tough. But with the experience of this year I think we are all better equipped to handle the challenges that lie ahead. We have had a successful year, especially as it relates to our online platform.”
Morris thanked staff for rallying in 2014. He told them to ready themselves for “more exciting new things” and assured them that through teamwork they would reap even more success.
There were three recipients of the inaugural Editor-In-Chief Star Performance Awards. Associate Managing Editor Eric Smith, Administrative Assistant Tracey Gibson and Library Assistant Lana Yearwood were all hand-picked by Morris for outstanding service which helped to enhance his job.
Smith and Gibson both won a trip to any Caribbean destination, compliments LIAT, while Yearwood won a smartphone.
However, it was online Editor Sherrylyn Toppin who took the Most Outstanding Editorial Employee award – the top award – and will be jetting off to London, thanks to Virgin Atlantic.
This year there was a four-way tie for Most Outstanding Editor with News Editors Sanka Price, Antoinette Connell, Geralyn Edward and John Sealy sharing the prize.
Senior Sports Reporter Ezra Stuart won the prize for Most Consistent Reporter while John Boyce was named Most Consistent Sub-Editor.
Four members of the News Desk were singled out for working beyond the call of duty throughout the year. The four, Carlos Atwell, Lisa King, Heather-Lynn Evanson and Yvette Best, were praised by Morris for “working under extremely pressured circumstance”.
Awards were also given to non-Editorial staff whose service was of major benefit to the department.
Prizes for the awards were also donated by LIME, Digicel, Sandals Resort, Turtle Beach and Banks Holdings Limited. (TTY)
Winners Row
• Most Consistent Reporter: Ezra Stuart
• Most Consistent Sub Editor: John Boyce
• Best Feature/Series Writer: Heather-Lynn Evanson
• Most Improved Photographer: Reco Moore
• Most Improved Driver: Rajit Yarde
• Best Support Service: Janelle Ward
• Tipster of the Year: Trevor Marshall
• Tokens of Appreciation: Huldah Boucher, Juanita Rock
• Special Gift/40th Birthday: Natanga Smith, Sherrylyn Toppin, Kendy Graham
• Winston Walker Award: The entire Subs Desk – David Ashby, David Harding, Desery Roach, John Boyce, Rhonda Thompson, Sandra Sealy, Kendy Graham, Bea Dottin, Nicole DePeiza
• Special Service Awards: News desk reporters – Carlos Atwell, Lisa King, Heather-Lynn Evanson,Yvette Best
• Most Outstanding Editor(s): All four News Editors – Antoinette Connell, John Sealy, Sanka Price, Geralyn Edward
• Most Outstanding Editorial Employee: Online Editor Sherrylyn Toppin.
• Editor-In-Chief Star Performance Awards: Associate Managing Editor Eric Smith, Administrative Assistant Tracey Gibson and Library Assistant Lana Yearwood.
