An Xtra investigation credited with protecting LGBTQ2S+ activists from an online scam won a gold medal for online media from the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Led by journalist Rob Csernyik, with support from editors Tara-Michelle Ziniuk, Angela Mullins and Julie Carl, and fact-checker Tobin Ng, the project exposed an online scam that preys upon activists supporting LGBTQ2S+ causes, including those located in countries where such advocacy work can put them in danger. The scammers alleged to be organizing a conference in Canada and attempted to get both funds and personal information from activists.
The CAJ is considered one of the most esteemed journalism organizations in the country and is dedicated to upholding public interest and investigative journalism. Xtra’s work was honoured as part of a weekend conference, Power, Platforms, and the Press, in Ottawa where many discussions were dedicated to creating journalism that has real-world impact.
“In the months since publishing this investigation, we’ve already seen people in the charitable and academic sectors noticing other suspicious requests, unvetted conferences and the like,” says Ziniuk, Xtra’s managing editor. “People have cited our story as bringing awareness to this issue and helping them detect scams targeting them. We’re happy to be part of making this difference.”
Csernyik’s work, titled “This online scam is putting the LGBTQ2S+ global activist community at risk,” was also recognized by the National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF), which celebrates outstanding journalism published online and in Canadian magazines. The NMAF runs the National Magazine Awards, where Csernyik’s story was nominated for investigative reporting.
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