Michelle Justine Lang (31 January 1975 – 30 December 2009) was a Canadian journalist. Lang was a Calgary Herald reporter and the first Canadian journalist to die in the War in Afghanistan.[1]

Michelle Lang
Born(1975-01-31)31 January 1975
Died30 December 2009(2009-12-30) (aged 34)
EducationSimon Fraser University
OccupationReporter
Notable creditCalgary Herald

Biography

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Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Lang was an alumnus of Magee Secondary School and Simon Fraser University. Her first job as a reporter was at the Prince George Free Press. She later moved on to Moose Jaw Times Herald and the Regina Leader-Post, then moved to Calgary to become a print journalist for the Calgary Herald. She won a National Newspaper Award in 2008 for best beat reporting,[2] for her reporting on national and provincial health-care issues.[3]

Lang was on a six-week assignment to Afghanistan for the Herald and Canwest News Service[4] when the armoured military vehicle she was riding in struck a roadside bomb.[5] She died of her wounds and four Canadian soldiers were killed in the blast.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miller, Jason (4 January 2010). "Hundreds honour heroes - Four soldiers, journalist repatriated in emotional ceremony at CFB Trenton". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  2. ^ "List of winners since 1949". National Newspaper Awards. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  3. ^ "NNA winner at '09 gala in Montreal dies in Afghanistan blast". National Newspaper Awards. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Condolence messages pouring in for reporter killed in Afghanistan". Canadian Press. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 1 January 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  5. ^ "5 Canadians killed in Afghanistan". CBC News. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Calgary man mourns fiance lost to Taliban bomb". National Post. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
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