Investigation Wins Gold for Restaurant Food Safety Reporting

The Edmonton Journal and MacEwan University students won the Gold CAJ Award for Data Journalism at the Canadian Association of Journalists' annual ceremony held in Ottawa this past weekend.

The project, titled "Risky Restaurants," grew from months of data analysis led by MacEwan associate professor Steve Lillebuen and a team of 15 students, working alongside Journal reporter Matthew Black and columnist Keith Gerein. The team examined tens of thousands of records and conducted more than 200 interviews, culminating in a multi-day series that exposed issues with the province's inspection reports portal, restaurant food safety training, and lack of transparency available to customers.

The series included seven stories, a column, a podcast, and visuals from Journal photographers. It also prompted the provincial government to announce it is cracking down on food safety issues as a result of the reporting.

"This project was a true team effort — students, faculty, reporters, editors, and data journalists all brought different pieces to complete a complex puzzle," Lillebuen said. "This national recognition shows what's possible when universities and newsrooms work together."

Journal editor-in-chief Dave Breakenridge credited Lillebuen for bringing forward the concept and praised the collaborative effort. "Projects like this are an example of why the best journalism is done as part of a team," Breakenridge said.