Five RTDNA West Region awards were recently granted to CTV News Vancouver for its diverse reporting. The accolades cover a range of topics, including human trafficking investigations and emergency flood coverage.
"Hidden in Plain Sight" and the B.C. Human Trafficking Connection
Michele Brunoro’s investigative series, "Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Trafficking and the B.C. Connection," was a central driver of this recognition. The series, which earned the Enterprise Journalism award, required months of intensive research and interviews to give a platform to survivors and experts. This type of deep-dive reporting follows a growing trend in regional journalism where newsrooms pivot toward high-impact, long-form investigative pieces to tackle complex social crises.
By examining the specific ties between human trafficking and British Columbia, the project provided a necessary lens on a topic that often remains in the shadows of local discourse. Such investigative work is increasingly vital as newsrooms seek to provide depth beyond the daily news cycle.
St. John Alexander’s three-award sweep for visual storytelling
Reporter St. John Alexander earned three distinct honors for his technical and visual contributions to the newsroom. According to the RTDNA report, Alexander was recognized for Excellence in Editing, Excellence in Video, and VJ Video. His work showcased a wide range of storytelling capabilities, from technical production to natural history.
One notable piece followed bird watchers to one of the largest bald eagle gatherings in the world, demonstrating how visual journalism can bridge the gap between hard news and engaging human-interest stories. This versatility is a key component of the station's recent success in the West Region.
The Nooksack River flooding and the Fraser Valley emergency
The station’s Breaking News award was specifically tied to its coverage of the Fraser Valley floods. This emergency reporting was triggered when the Nooksack River in Washington spilled its banks, causing significant inundation in the region. According to news director Ethan Faber, the awards reflect the wide variety of work the station performs daily , from courageous investigative pieces to essential emergency updates.
As reported by CTV News, the newsroom provided continuous updates across television and digital platforms to help residents navigate evacuation orders and road closures. This highlights the essential role local broadcasters play in public safety during environmental disasters and state-of-emergency scenarios.
Competing against the Prairies and East for the 2026 National title
These regional wins serve as a precursor to the 2026 RTDNA National awards gala. The winners from the West Region will now advance to compete against honorees from the Prairies,Central ,and East regions. This competition is part of a larger tradition of celebrating the best in broadcast and digital journalism across Canada.
For CTV News Vancouver, these five awards add to a growing list of recognitions, signaling a period of high performance for their investigative unit and breaking news teams. The station will look to carry this momentum into the national competition scheduled for November 2026.
What the RTDNA report leaves out regarding digital engagement
While the awards celebrate individual and team achievements, several details regarding the scope of the wins remain unverified. The report does not specify the exact number of digital impressions or the specific reach of the human trafficking series across social platforms. Furthermore, while the RTDNA recognizes the quality of the work, it does not provide a comparative analysis of how these stories performed against other regional competitors in terms of vieer engagement. It also remains unclear how the station plans to leverage these wins to bolster its investigative unit in the coming year.
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