NOMINEES CHASED STORIES ABOUT LEGAL, ILLICIT DRUGS

Four Hamilton Spectator writers have been chosen as finalists for the
Canadian Association of Journalists' 2006 investigative journalism awards.

Steve Buist, Joan Walters and Luma Muhtadie were nominated in the
large-newspaper-wire service category for Blind Faith, a series of
stories on the safety of prescription drugs and the ties between
university researchers and pharmaceutical companies published last year.

Reporter Deirdre Healey is a finalist in the community newspaper
category for Taking a Hit, a 2005 series on crack cocaine she wrote
while at The Guelph Mercury.

Blind Faith probed links between McMaster University and the
pharmaceutical industry. It raised questions about the safety of the
drugs we take, how the drugs are approved and the potential for
conflicts arising between people entrusted with testing drugs and
those who stand to profit from them.

Blind Faith is also nominated among newspapers and wire services of
more than 25,000 circulation. It is also nominated for a National
Newspaper Award in the investigations category and for an Ontario
Newspaper Award in the enterprise category.

Roger Gillespie, The Spectator's managing editor, readership, said to
be nominated by the CAJ is a great endorsement of work done at The Spectator.

"It was a long painstaking pursuit of an important subject of great
public interest. ... We believe in investigative journalism not
because it wins awards but because it is one of the most important
things a newspaper can do for its community."

Joan Walters said the nomination demonstrates that "The Spectator
continues to support journalism that brings topics of immense public
interest to its readers," she said.

Steve Buist said, "It's a tremendous honour to be recognized on a
national stage. ... It's truly gratifying to see that The Spectator
can compete with the country's biggest and best."

Taking a Hit was a five-part series Healey wrote on the explosion of
crack cocaine in Guelph, told through key players in the local drug
scene, including a crack dealer, crack addict and women who sell
their bodies for the drug. It also examined the uphill battle police
face in combating the drug as well as the economic and social impacts
crack have on a city.

"There were a number of people who put a lot of hard work into this
series and it's great to see it being recognized," said Healey.

Winners will be announced May 13 at the CAJ conference in Halifax.
See www.caj.ca