CBC's Belle Puri honoured with lifetime achievement from Webster journalism awards
CBC Vancouver associate producer Cathy Browne also honoured
Two CBC journalists are being honoured with awards from the Jack Webster Foundation, which honours excellence in journalism in B.C.
Longtime CBC reporter Belle Puri is the recipient of the 2024 Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the careers of senior reporters and editors for work of "long-lasting significance, clarity, fairness and innovation," according to the foundation.
"It's such an honour. My early years were during the Jack Webster era. He and Bruce Hutchison were incredible journalists," Puri said.
"I still remember my first day on the job — it was a Sunday at CKNW. I can still remember what I wore."
Puri's career began in 1977, working for CKNW and BCTV. In 1992, Puri joined the team at CBC, where she has covered local and national news, hosted CBC Radio programs and TV news, and worked in leadership roles.
Some of her most recent — and ongoing — work includes reporting on B.C.'s doctor shortage for the CBC series Situation Critical.
"Belle is an amazing journalist and we value her even more for the incredible leadership and mentorship she shows in our newsroom every day," Shiral Tobin, CBC British Columbia's director of journalism and programming, said.
Cathy Browne, an associate producer for CBC Vancouver, is this year's recipient of the Bill Good Award. This award is given to an individual or organization that, through their journalism, addresses a community's needs and benefits.
During her four years at CBC, Browne's work has largely focused on sharing the experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities, highlighting the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their families in accessing education, health care, and employment. However, she's also shown the audience how people with disabilities thrive.
"Cathy has been one of the people who has put inclusivity at the top of every conversation editorially and when it comes to workplace culture," Tobin said.
Browne herself is legally blind and was an early adopter of the internet and social media, helping her to reach a wider audience while sharing her own experiences as a person with a disability.
"I'm incredibly honoured and grateful to be recognized with the Bill Good Award," Browne said. "Advocating for an inclusive and accessible world has always been my passion. Working at CBC has given me the opportunity to make a difference within and beyond the newsroom. It's the dream of a lifetime."