Are you a journalist or journalism student with a strong interest in the adult literacy cause? Could funding help you undertake research and get your literacy story out to the public? ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2012 Peter Gzowski Life Literacy Fellowship are now being accepted online.

The fellowship is open to accredited media and freelance journalists working and residing in Canada, along with current journalism students attending an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada. The fellowship was created to generate discussion about adult literacy in Canada. The winner will receive $3,000 in funding to help in the research and development of a media story (print, online or broadcast) with an adult literacy-themed focus.

“ABC Life Literacy Canada is delighted to offer this fellowship and continue to honour Peter Gzowski’s legacy as a champion for adult literacy,” said Margaret Eaton, ABC Life Literacy Canada president. “Through the telling of dynamic and focused literacy stories, journalists help raise awareness of literacy in Canada and improve public understanding of this pressing cause.”

Full details including submission criteria and checklist, along with the online entry form, can be found at www.abclifeliteracy.ca. Story ideas and submissions are being accepted until 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

The 2011 recipient of Peter Gzowski Life Literacy Fellowship, Bowmanville, Ontario resident Valerie Mutton, examined the impact of low literacy levels in Canada’s family court system in her published article, Frozen moment of judicial compassion.

“I come at literacy from two perspectives,” said Valerie. “As a lawyer who sees the devastating financial and social costs of low literacy playing out in the courts each day, and also as a writer and speaker who loves language. I’m so honoured to be the recipient of an award such as this that will allow me to use my skills with the latter to bring attention to the former.”

The 2012 Peter Gzowski Life Literacy Fellowship winner will be announced on September 27, 2012 as part of ABC Life Literacy Canada’s evening of celebration, Life Literacy Night. The event will also feature the Dr. Alan Middleton Workplace Literacy and Learning Award, The Honourable Joyce Fairbairn P.C. Literacy Public Awareness Award, and The Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Literacy Innovation Award.

Since 1993, the ‘PGLAM’ (The Peter Gzowski Literacy Award of Merit) has been awarded annually to journalists including, Denise Donlon (MuchMusic), Peter Calamai (Toronto Star) and Sean Fine (Globe and Mail) among others, whose work has enhanced public understanding, support for, and awareness of the literacy cause. The Peter Gzowski Life Literacy Fellowship follows in the tradition of PGLAM.