CBC Calgary wins 2 national journalism awards, for speeding tickets probe and 17th Avenue live broadcast

A road show for Calgary's No.1 morning radio program and an investigation into why most speeding tickets are issued in just 10 out of 1,200 city playground zones got the attention of readers and listeners and now a national awards organization.

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has tapped CBC Calgary with two awards:

• Take a walk down Calgary's International Avenue
• Calgary has 1,200 playground zones. Most speeding tickets are issued in just these 10 spots

"It's a huge honour to be recognized on the national stage for our original journalism," saidHelen Henderson, senior director at CBC Calgary.

"Robson Fletcher and Elizabeth Withey combed through years' worth of records to bring us a story that had deep resonance with Calgarians."

Through their work, the pair discovered nearly two-thirds of photo-radar tickets were issued in just 10 of the city's 1,200 playground zones, after analyzing three years' worth of police data obtained under a freedom of information request.

The project won the Digital Data Storytelling award.

Fletcher says it was a team effort.

"I'm grateful to CBC Calgary for investing resources in data journalism, especially at a time when newsrooms are smaller than ever. Journalism faces a lot of struggles these days, but the opportunity for using data to find and tell stories is a bright spot on its horizon," Fletcher said.

"I hope readers and listeners continue to recognize the value of data journalism, and press governments, institutions and organizations for more open data. At the same time, I hope news organizations continue to invest in this effective approach to storytelling."

'There was no rain'

The Calgary Eyeopener, CBC Calgary's flagship live radio program, picked up the Peter Gzowski National Radio Program Award for its walk through the city's International Avenue.

"We're really thrilled that technology has developed enough that we can do a live radio programwhile visiting our listeners where they live and work, since they invite us into their homes every morning," said Tracy Johnson, executive producer.

"And I think that was our first walking show where there was no rain."