Pickering resident a 'true pioneer'
August 02, 2008 - 04:30
PICKERING -- Murray Skinner, the recently retired president of Metroland Media Group Ltd., is set to receive the Suburban Newspapers of America’s (SNA) highest achievement award.
Mr. Skinner will receive the Dean S. Lesher Award for his leadership during a 33-year career that began at the Richmond Hill Liberal. He worked his way up to become Metroland’s vice-president of marketing where he served for 19 years before being named company president in 2000.
The Pickering resident said he’s thrilled to get the award.
“I think I’m only the second Canadian ever to win it, which is quite nice,” said Mr. Skinner, who is the 27th recipient of the award.
“Murray Skinner is a true pioneer in our industry. Among other tremendous accomplishments, the development of the quality distribution program at Metroland has become the gold standard that advertisers request and many other newspapers emulate,” said Betsy Wilson, chairwoman of the Dean Lesher Award Committee. “Murray has been very generous in sharing his expertise and success formulas with newspaper companies throughout North America. I am very pleased to have had the honour of informing Murray Skinner that he is this year’s recipient of this very prestigious award. No one is more deserving.”
The nominating committee also recognized Mr. Skinner for his tireless passion and promotion of community media and for driving home the value of community journalism and leadership. During Mr. Skinner’s tenure, Metroland newspapers have won more local, regional, provincial, national and North American awards for excellence than ever before.
However, he said it isn’t just about him, but all of Metroland.
“This award is coming to my name, but it’s really an award for the kind of innovation being done throughout the company,” said Mr. Skinner.
During his time at Metroland, the company has become the leading community media company in Canada.
In May, Mr. Skinner was awarded an honourary lifetime membership in the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA), the organization’s highest honour. As well, a new CCNA award was created in his honour.
Mr. Skinner will accept his award in October in Minneapolis at an SNA conference.
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