The Local has received five nominations at the National Magazine Awards (NMA), recognizing our work as some of the best in the country.

In the feature writing category, Ashley Okwuosa has been nominated for “The Realities of Renting While Black,” an insightful and personal look at the biases facing Black renters in Toronto’s housing market. Executive editor Nicholas Hune-Brown has been nominated for his sharp profile of then-candidate, now-mayor Olivia Chow during the 2023 election. And contributor Adin Wagner has been nominated for “Best Emerging Writer” for his data feature “In Small Claims Court, Justice Delayed,” which unearthed data revealing disproportionate wait times in a system colloquially considered the “people’s court.”

In photojournalism, Christopher Katsarov Luna has been recognized for his striking photos documenting the construction chaos along the route of the Finch West LRT, featured in “Canada’s Worst Obstacle Course” from the Finch West issue. That issue as a whole, which includes stories about the long fight for transit access, deep-dives into housing, food security, community-building, and more, has been nominated in the “Editorial Package” category.

This is the highest number of National Magazine Award nominations The Local has received in a single year. “We’re honoured to be recognized among the biggest names in magazine journalism in Canada,” said editor-in-chief Tai Huynh. “As a small publication with big stories to tell, we’re thrilled that our work, which aims to shed light on underreported issues affecting different corners of Toronto, is making a mark on the national stage.”

Winners will be announced at the June 7 gala presented by the National Media Awards Foundation. 

Feature Writing

“The Realities of Renting While Black” by Ashley Okwuosa

Contributors: Marley Allen-Ash, illustrator; Nicholas Hune-Brown, handling editor

Profile

“Where Has Olivia Chow Been?” by Nicholas Hune-Brown

Contributors: Wade Hudson, photographer; Tai Huynh, handling editor

Photo Essay & Photojournalism

“Canada’s Worst Obstacle Course” by Christopher Katsarov Luna

Contributors: Richard Trapunski, writer; Tai Huynh, photo editor

Editorial Package

The Finch West Issue

Contributors: Nicholas Hune-Brown, editor and writer; Inori Roy, editor and writer; Tai Huynh, editor; Simon Lewsen, writer; Mobólúwajídìde D. Joseph, writer; Furquan Mohamed, writer; Daysha Loppie, writer; Richard Trapunski, writer; Kunal Chaudhary, writer; Christopher Katsarov Luna, photographer; Chloë Ellingson, photographer; Yader Guzman, photographer

Best Emerging Writer

Adin Wagner for “In Small Claims Court, Justice Delayed”

Contributors: Inori Roy, handling editor