By Santosh Digal
Manila, Nov 13, 2019: Fabian Dawson, a multiple-award-winning journalist, internationally acclaimed author, filmmaker and media expert, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jack Webster excellence in journalism gala in Canada early November.
The Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jack Webster Foundation based in Vancouver, recognizes the careers of senior reporters and editors in Canada who have received distinction in their communities for work of long-lasting significance, clarity, fairness, and innovation.
Dawson became the first Canadian of Asian origin to win the award, which is among the highest journalism accolades in Canada, and one that is chosen by an independent juried process.
Urging journalists to be a catalyst for change, Dawson said: “Use your skills to highlight courage and creativity and not just conflict or crises’…use it to showcase triumph over adversity…use it more often to uncover the news rather than just cover the news.”
“Because, ultimately good journalism is not just about telling stories…it’s about being the catalyst for change,” said Dawson, who received a standing ovation from about 1,000 people who attended the event on November 7.
Dawson spoke with Santosh Digal of Matters India
Please tell us about yourself
I am of South Asian origin with my roots in Tamil Nadu. My grandparents moved to Malaysia around the 1900 and both my parents were born in Malaysia. I have two children Deborah and Joshua who are based in Bordeaux, France and Vancouver respectively. I moved to Canada in 1988. Until August of 2016, I was the deputy editor-in-chief of The Province newspaper in Vancouver, which is part of the Postmedia group, Canada’s largest media organization. I was also the editor of Vancouverdesi.com, Canada’s biggest South Asian news portal and help operate the South Asian Post in Vancouver currently.
What was your initial feeling being the first Asian-Canadian to get this award?
It is an honor to get this award — and a privilege to be the first Asian Canadian to get it. But I feel journalism is not so much about color. It must be about courage and conviction. I hope more journalists will use their ethnicity to bring about cultural awareness and context in their stories. I hope it will serve to further illustrate the immigrant experience and as an inspiration for New Canadians in journalism.
What is the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award and who gets it usually?
The Jack Webster Foundation’s Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award honors an exemplary BC journalism career. It recognizes the careers of senior reporters and editors who have received distinction in their communities for work of long-lasting significance, clarity, fairness and innovation. Recipients of this award are chosen by the Jack Webster Foundation Board of Directors. The outstanding career of Bruce Hutchison from 1918 to 1992 is a primary guide in reviewing potential candidates for the award.
Can you talk about your most memorable work as a journalist?
While there have been many, I would say the work we did on exposing the social scourge of abandoned brides, who have become victims of cultural fraud in India would fit this bill…Our comprehensive work in Canada and India that led to international coverage and accolades has led to changes in the law that is beginning to see some impact.
Your reporting on the murder of Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu has been greatly followed and has led to good results. What were your thoughts when you decided to pursue the story and the result your coverage?
I never met this young woman who was so full of love and murdered because of it. But today, after 10 trips to India, scores of interviews, three documentaries, a made-for-TV movie, a website called justiceforjassi.com and the book Justice for Jassi, I know her very well. I have pursued this story for over 18 years and I hope one day soon there will be Justice for Jassi.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
One of the bigger projects now is a potential Netflix series on the Jassi murder case and my other work in India including dowry-related contract killings and the plight of abandoned brides. I also continue to consult with international companies on media issues.
How would you compare present journalism and media industry as compared to your experience?
This is one industry that has seen tremendous changes over the last generation. When I started the principal tools were a notebook and pen and you were always on the lookout for a public payphone to send stories from the scene of reporting to beat deadlines. Today’s journalist is expected to be a reporter, photographer, and videographer, as well as an editor and producer of stories…they have to be masters of technology as well as skillful storytellers who must continually update and repurpose their content for platform-agnostic delivery on social media, broadcast and print.
What are your thoughts on online media and its pros and cons?
There are many…some of the advantages of online media are free and easy access, continual updates on breaking news, greater reach than traditional media and almost instant feedback from readers, who can help develop stories. On the other hand, there is an advertising overload on many online news platforms that clutters what you are reading. We also live in an era of alternative facts where the credibility of online newspapers, if they are not linked to traditional newsrooms, is constantly questioned. Many online media portals also risk accuracy for speed to be the first out with the news. It is also increasingly difficult with online portals to tell the difference between paid and original content.
Is there anything that today’s media industry lacks?
Two things come to mind here, one is isolation and the other is leadership. Without brick and mortar newsroom settings where journalists can bounce ideas and rub off each other constantly, many tend to work remotely and alone. This has led to fewer investigative features where teams work together.
I am a big believer that an editor is as good as his or her reporter and vice-versa. Many a time newsroom conflicts arise from editors not knowing what it takes to get, do and deliver story packages, because they have not done it themselves. In many cases, senior editors in larger operations are not digital natives and do not have experience in what we refer to as backpack journalism.
In other cases, newer online news portals tend to have managers who are primarily digital natives and who are more interested in likes or shares on social media channels rather than the depth of the content.
Rise of online media has led to print media going down. As a long-time journalist, do you feel that print media will make a comeback?
When TV arrived, they said it is the death of radio. When the internet took hold, they said it was the death of the newspaper. But there is resurgence in print now as people want to cut through the digital noise and constant flow of ads and information. The resurgence of print will also appeal to people who increasingly want tactility…to hold and feel what they are reading…I believe there will be a comeback, especially in niche publications.
Traditional newspapers and magazines created online editions to increase their reach…Now many online-only media operations are printing weekly or monthly editions to enhance their credibility quotient and show not everyone should be a publisher.”
People usually get their news from social media. How reliable is this medium?
The number of people who are using social media as a news source continues to rise. While it has its advantages, heavy social media users are likely to follow those who have the same beliefs on an issue as they do and they do not take into consideration the opposing views. This has led to people congregating in places to seek confirmation bias. If you rely on social media alone as your news source, there is a great risk of getting incorrect information. Check the source, its origins and compare what you are reading with established trustworthy outlets.
What are the key things a reporter needs to focus when covering a news story?
In this era of alternative facts, fake news and Trumpian truth, today’s journalists face more challenges and foes. Many a time, we can fall prey to spreading disinformation rather than information. Our job is to hold people accountable for what they say and do. More than ever before we need to tell the story from the perspective of the people impacted rather than the prism of politicians, police and special interest groups.
More South Asians are in the media industry today. Why?
This is a good thing and not just only for South Asians but all minority groups. The increasing presence of South Asian personalities in mainstream media helps Influence the public image of minorities. It helps dispel stereotyping and promotes views that are not adequately reflected in public discourse. Immigration is a defining feature of Canada and new Canadians, mostly from Asia currently represent one in five people in Canada. My hope is one day that statistic is reflected in our newsroom diversity counts.
Your work has drawn many South Asians to journalism. What advice do you have for them?
As I said earlier, journalism is not about colour. It is about courage. It is not about where you come from, it is where you are going. Use your ethnicity for context, not conflict. Ultimately good journalism is not just about reflecting what is going on around you; it is about using journalism as a vehicle for social change.