The Narwhal wins Canadian Association of Journalists award for reporting on Canada’s oil and gas lobby

The Narwhal’s relentless reporting on the influence of the Canadian oil and gas industry has been recognized with an award from the Canadian Association of Journalists.

Climate investigations reporter Carl Meyer took home the national award in the online media category at a gala in Toronto on Saturday for a piece that examined the climate pledges of the Pathways Alliance of oilsands companies.

Meyer’s award-winning story — Are Canadian oilsands companies working to save the planet or save face? — was just one of his many meaty investigations into how the oil and gas lobby works to sway public opinion and government policy. 

“It’s a thrill to see Carl’s work honoured on a national stage,” The Narwhal’s managing editor Mike De Souza said. “Every day, I watch his tireless efforts to follow the money and documents at the heart of the climate crisis. Line by line, he has uncovered secrets and raised awareness about what lobbyists discuss with government officials behind the scenes.”

“None of this work would happen if not for our over 6,000 Narwhal members who donate whatever they can, so I’d also like to thank them for helping them make climate investigations possible.”

Other Canadian Association of Journalists award finalists in the online media category included journalists with stories published by independent news outlets Ricochet Media and The Independent as well as Radio-Canada.

The Narwhal’s work was nominated in five other categories, from photojournalism to human rights reporting.

Photojournalist Amber Bracken, a regular contributor to The Narwhal, took home the environment and climate change award along with Brandi Morin for work done with Ricochet and IndigiNews.

Another Narwhal contributor, Moira Donovan, won the written feature award for work published in Hakai Magazine.

The McGillivray Award, the Canadian Association of Journalists’ recognition of the best investigative journalism from 2023, went to the Montreal Gazette’s Aaron Derfel for his reporting on the health care system.