Best Emerging Writer
The National Magazine Award for Best Emerging Writer goes to a writer whose early work in magazines shows the highest degree of craft and promise.
2024 Winner
From three talented, promising nominees, Geneviève Larochelle-Guy was awarded the Best Emerging Writer title for “La greffe de visage est-elle éthique?,” published in Québec Science.
Geneviève Larochelle-Guy’s deeply reported feature on face transplants moved us with its breadth of research and compassionate, confident writing on a sensitive and little-covered subject.
—NMA Jury
Previous Winners of Best Emerging Writer
2022 — Marina Wang — “A Community’s Quest to Document Every Species on Their Island Home“
2021 — Stephanie Bai — “Seeking Sanctuary” (Maisonneuve)
2020 — Sherina Harris — “The Butterfly Effect” (The Walrus)
2019 — Kate Black — “Awkward Cause” (Maisonneuve)
Note that, in 2019, the category was re-named Best Emerging Writer, with changes made to the submission requirements and eligibility.
Previous Winners of Best New Magazine Writer
2018 — Max Binks-Collier — “Distant Relatives” (Maisonneuve)
2017 — Jessica Rose — “Lost and Found” (Toronto Life)
2016 — Amorina Kingdon — “The Questionable Science of Vancouver’s Port Expansion“ (Hakai Magazine)
2015 — Desmond Cole — “The Skin I’m In“ (Toronto Life)
2014 — Genna Buck — “Finding a Place” (Maisonneuve)
2013 — Catherine McIntyre — “Clusterf*ck” (THIS Magazine)
2012 — Sierra Skye Gemma — “The Wrong Way” (The New Quarterly)
2011 — Liam Casey — “Suicide Notes” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)
2010 — Matthieu Aikins — “Last Stand in Kandahar” (The Walrus)
2009 — Danielle Groen — “This is Your Brain on Love” (Chatelaine)
2008 — Kris Demeanor —”Get a Real Job” (unlimited)
2007 — Patrick White — “Red Rush” (The Walrus)
2006 — Jeremy Klaszus — “Big Oil on Trial” (AlbertaViews)
2005 — Larry Frolick — “The Wired Cabin” (Outpost); “Danger Signs” (The Walrus)
2004 — Sophie Lees (AlbertaViews)
2003 — Chantal Srivastava (L’actualité)
2002 — Jean-Francois Bégin (L’actualité)
2001 — Jonathan Trudel (L’actualité)
2000 — Matthew McKinnon
Previous Winners of Best New Visual Creator
2014 — Hudson Christie — “A Portrait of the Artist with Testicles in Hand” (Maisonneuve)
2011 — The Coveteur — “Gifts” (Report on Business)
2009 — Byron Eggenschwiler — “Tales from Riverheights Terrace” (Swerve)
Previous Winners of Best Student Writer
2008 — Chris Watt — “Iraq’s Walking Dead,” (Maisonneuve)
2007 — Julia Belluz — “I,” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)
2006 — Buffy Cram — “Man Hands,” (Prairie Fire)
2005 — Leigh Doyle — “So Long,” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)