Years change, but the delights of a well-told travel story remain the same, no matter whether you read it in print, on a PC or on a smartphone.

So the Northern Lights awards luncheon, part of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s Canada Media Marketplace 2011, remains a particular treat. The 14^th iteration of our annual media marketplace for the US took place this year at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY. Adam Gopnik, best known for his sparkling written work for The New Yorker, regaled attendees as this year’s keynote speaker.

The Northern Lights Awards for excellence in travel journalism forms part of CTC’s US media relations work. The Missouri School of Journalism and Associate Professor John Fennell did the honours with judging again, sifting through hundreds of entries.

Without further ado: the winners.

Newspaper
Winner: San Francisco Chronicle, travel editor: Spud Hilton
“Testing Skills in the Big Chill” by Margo Pfeiff (writer/photographer)

Independent Journalist: Newspaper
1) Remy Scalza, The Washington Post
“Chill Before Serving”

2) John Flinn, Los Angeles Times
“Iron Nerves”

3) Genevieve Paiement, The New York Times T magazine
“Picky Eaters”

Magazine
1) Travel + Leisure
“Magnificent Montreal” by Amy Farley

2) enRoute, editor-in-chief Ilana Weitzman
“Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2010” by Sarah Musgrave

3) Explore, editor: James Little
“The Best of Banff” by Ryan Stuart

Independent Journalist, Magazine
1) Conor Mihell, Canoe & Kayak
“Recon Man”

2) Dan Rubinstein, Canadian Geographic
“Some Kind of Merveilleux”

3) Sandra Phinney, Saltscapes
“Only in Pubnico”

Internet Reporting
1) Jules Older, Canada, Eco Travel
“Newfoundland: Three Lifetimes in Three Days”

2) Greg Thomas, Angler’s Tonic
“Tonic on the Dean”

3) Bobbie Hasselbring, realfoodtraveler.com
“Quebec: For the Love of Lavender”

Photography

1) Michael Bednar, Wanderlust
“Fur & Ice”

2) John Sylvester, Coastal Living
“Winter Wonderland”

3) Peter Guttman, Apple iPad and iPhone applications
“Rooms With a View”

There will be a full report later this month from Canada Media Marketplace 2011 in CTC News.