Bill Draayer Award 1987

Given in recognition of outstanding personal contributions to the progress and development of the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association.

Donald 'Duff' Jamison

Through his unselfish and devoted services to the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association, Donald 'Duff' Jamison has demonstrated his deep personal interest in the well-being of AWNA. His voice has been heard in constructive criticism and support of many proposals aimed at improvement of AWNA services.

He played a leading role in the development of the Association's 1982 Readership Survey which, in retrospect, has proven to be a major plateau in the continuing growth and enhanced public image of Alberta weekly newspapers.

Since that time he has been an active member of the Advertising Committee and its chairman for the past three years. Evidence of his participation and leadership in the work of the committee is the number of innovations which have seen a steady increase in national and regional advertising lineage for Alberta weekly newspapers as well as an improved relationship with advertisers and advertising agencies.

Duff Jamison has long believed that weekly newspapers must adopt a more professional approach to advertisers and agencies. As a member of the AWNA Advertising Committee since 1982 and its chairman for the past three years, he has spearheaded the implementation of a Sales Division – helped to develop more professional promotional equipment and materials – and, for the first time in Canada, introduced a Volume Incentive Program for advertisers who use AWNA's One Order-One Bill service.

These measures have increased the volume of advertising placed through Central Office by more than 30 per cent in the past year, in addition to making Alberta weekly newspapers better known and accepted among advertisers and advertising agencies as important and very effective advertising media.

Not the least of Duff Jamison's service has been his availability and willingness to assist Central Office in planning its recent transition to a much improved premises while continuing to cope with its greatly increased volume of business.