The Foundation was established by the late Right Honourable Roland Michener, Governor General of Canada from 1967 to 1974. The first Michener award was presented in 1970. The Michener Award honours and celebrates outstanding public service in journalism. Entries are judged particularly for their professionalism and their impact on the public. Daily and weekly newspapers, news agencies, radio and television stations and networks and periodicals are eligible.
Consideration is given to the resources available.
There is one annual winner. A runner-up is awarded Honourable Mention. Additional Citations of Merit are at the discretion of the judges. The awards are to news organizations, rather than to individuals. A comparable award in the United States is the Pulitzer gold medal for public service by a newspaper.