Eastern Door journalists up for national awards

The Eastern Door’s lead reporter Eve Cable and managing editor Marcus Bankuti are both among the finalists for this year’s Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Awards.

Cable was nominated in the Community Written Feature category for her article “Aged out and left behind,” which was published on May 30, 2025, while Bankuti was nominated for the Geoffrey Stevens Award for Local Government Reporting for his coverage of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake during a turbulent election year.

“I was really excited to see that both Marcus and I were nominated this year,” said Cable.

“To have two nominations for a small newsroom is a big deal, because many of the outlets nominated operate with a much bigger staff and more resources than we have at The Eastern Door. I’m always confident that TED is able to produce high-calibre journalism, but it was really great news to know that we’re being recognized for our work at a high level.”

Cable’s article was part of the Spotlight: Child Welfare collaborative reporting project, where she worked with other news organizations, advisors, and former youth in care to produce a feature piece about post-majority support services.

“I’m really glad that we’re working across news organizations to change the way media approaches child welfare coverage, and I’m very happy I’ve been able to produce something that can be part of that,” Cable said.

The finalists were named on Tuesday morning, and the winners will be announced at the CAJ Awards Gala in Ottawa on June 13.

“The CAJ Awards recognize the best in Canadian journalism. It’s an honour to be nominated because it means experts in the field think you’re doing something right,” said Bankuti, who previously won the CAJ’s first-ever Community Written Feature Award two years ago.

“It’s exciting to see two of us chosen as finalists in the same year. It’s hard to overstate the value that Eve brings to The Eastern Door. No matter what needs to be done, she steps up and gives it her all, and that makes my job easier every week, not to mention what it does for the quality of our publication,” said Bankuti.

“We strive to punch above our weight as a community paper, and this kind of recognition validates that vision. Our mission to serve the community at the highest level is what makes it so meaningful to work at The Eastern Door, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”

Bankuti hopes his reporting played a small role in empowering Kanehsata’kehró:non at a challenging moment by striving to provide information and context not available elsewhere.

“I’ve somewhat passed the baton, so to speak, in Kanesatake, to a new crop of reporters who are able to put in the time on the ground that’s needed as The Pines Reporter section continues to grow,” he said. “It’s a privilege to continue to be a part of it, even if mostly behind the scenes as managing editor. The community needs and deserves great journalism, and that’s our goal.”

The Eastern Door’s editor/publisher Steve Bonspiel praised the work both journalists have done.

“Seeing Eve and Marcus from the beginning, how they had to get to know the community, and then dig into bigger stories, and break stories, and following major cases and class action lawsuits and all this other stuff; I have the best seat in the house. The best seat in the house is watching their progression,” said The Eastern Door’s publisher Steve Bonspiel.

“The sky really is the limit for them.”

None of TED’s accolades would be possible without the community’s support, he added.

“It’s a testament to all the stories we have in the community, because we’re only as good as the people who talk to us, the stories we find, the stories we are able to share, the digging that we do as reporters, and all of that comes together in this kind of recognition.”

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