MIAMI (July 28) - In recognition of the courage and relentless commitment to their work in journalism under governmental harassment and intimidation, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) awarded the Venezuelan journalists the IAPA 2003 Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press and at the same time distinguished with a special mention the Cuban independent press.
The IAPA granted the highest award to the Venezuelan media because "in the exercise of their profession, they risk their lives, face grave dangers and suffer enormous intimidation from the government for expressing their ideas with freedom," stated the Chairman of the IAPA Awards Committee, Juan Luis Correa of La Prensa newspaper in Panama.
On the other hand, the IAPA once again awarded the Cuban independent press a special distinction under the category of the IAPA Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press, especially to Raúl Rivero, IAPA director and regional vice chairman for Cuba of the Committee on Freedom of the Press, and the other 28 journalists who were also convicted to long prison sentences, as well as those journalists that continue to report under official persecution.
Andrés García, the IAPA president from Novedades de Quintana Roo newspaper in Mexico, explained that, "there is no better way to praise the journalistic work but to honor all those journalists that in the name of the publics right to know constantly risk their lives and even are incarcerated to silence their voices."
The Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press 2000 was granted to Jesús Blancornelas; to the Peruvian dailies El Comercio, La República, Caretas magazine, and the La Industria de Trujillo in 2001; to the Colombian press in 2000; and, in 1996, the award had also been given to the independent press in Cuba.
The Awards Committee reviewed about 300 entries when selecting this years winners and honorable mentions. The awards, consisting of US$2,000 and a plaque will be presented to the winners in October at the IAPA 59th General Assembly in Chicago to take place from October 10-14.
Following are the categories and winners:
The IAPA Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press
To the radio, television and print media in Venezuela for not succumbing to the governmental attacks and persecution broadcasting and publishing information during the social, economic and political crisis.
Special Distinction IAPA Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press
To all the Cuban journalists who were convicted to long prison terms this year
and to those who remain on the island reporting under great danger.
Among the reporters in prison since last March are: Raúl Rivero, Jorge
Olivera (Habana Press), Ricardo González Alfonso (Revista Cuba), Jose
Luis García Paneque (Agencia de Prensa Liberal), Omar Rodríguez
Saludes (photojournalist), Víctor Rolando Arroyo, Miguel Galvan, Edel
José García (Norte Centro Press), José Gabriel Ramón
Castillo, Pedro Arguelles Morán (Cooperativa Avileña de Periodistas
Independientes), Julio César Gálvez, Hector Maseda, Manuel Vázquez
Portal (Grupo Decoro), Oscar Espinosa Chepe, Adolfo Fernández Saínz,
Mario Enrique Mayo, Normando Hernández (Guild of Independent Jounalists
of Camagüey), Fabio Prieto Llorente, Pablo Pacheco, Carmelo Díaz
Fernández, Lester Luis González Penton, Alejandro Gonzalez Raga,
Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, José Ubaldo Izquierdo, Mijail Barzaga Lugo,
Omar Ruiz, Ivan Hernandez Carrillo and Alfredo Pulido. Also included in the
award are the imprisoned Cuban journalists: Bernardo Arévalo Padrón,
who since 1997, has been serving a six-year sentence, and Carlos Alberto Domínguez,
Léster Téllez Castro, and Carlos Brizuela.
And also the Cuban journalists Bernardo Arévalo Padrón, who is
serving a six-year sentence since 1997, Carlos Alberto Domínguez, Lester
Tellez Castro and Carlos Brizuela.
1. Inter-American Relations - Pedro Joaquín Chamorro sponsored by La Prensa, Managua, Nicaragua, to Jorge Luis Durán from El Tiempo, Bogota, Colombia, titled "Los fusiles de Otterloo".
For investigative reporting that spotlighted a complicated international scheme of illegal arms and smuggling.
2. Human Rights and Community Service sponsored by El Panamá-América, Panama, Organización Publicitaria S.A., San Pedro Sula, Honduras, El Comercio, Lima, Peru, and La Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the editorial team from El Imparcial, Hermosillo, Mexico, for its work titled "Los jornaleros de la esclavitud".
For a probing series that reveals the inhuman working conditions of some farm workers.
3. Newspapers in Education sponsored by Hoy, Quito, Ecuador, and Novedades de Quintana Roo, Cancún, Mexico, to the newsroom team of Ocho Columnas, Guadalajara, Mexico for its work titled "Kiubole-Program de Educación con Valores".
For a far-reaching and long-range project developed with great care.
4. Editorial Writing sponsored by El Mercurio, Santiago, Chile, to Al Lanier,
Chicago Tribune, Chicago, United States.
For a collection of editorials that spotlight Latin American problems with insight and understanding.
Honorable mention: to Adolfo Rivero "Combatientes de la esperanza" from El Nuevo Herald, Miami, United States.
For a penetrating and passionate perspective of the political opposition in Cuba.
5. News Coverage sponsored by El Nacional, Caracas, Venezuela, O Estado de S. Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil to Frances Robles from The Miami Herald, Miami, United States.
For reporting about the complex Colombian reality produced with objectivity, clarity and insight.
Honorable Mention: to Diego Olivier from Zero Hora, Porto Alegre, Brazil, for his work titled "Futebol e Cocaina".
For meticulous and revealing investigative reporting of the ties between sports and drugs.
6. In-Depth Reporting sponsored by The Miami Herald , Miami, Florida, United States, to José Mesías Xavier from Extra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, titled "A lei a serviço do mal".
For a series of reports that disclose with precision and courage the links between crime and law enforcement in Rio de Janeiro.
7. Feature Writing sponsored by El Comercio, Quito, Ecuador, and McClatchy Newspapers, Sacramento, California, United States, to Sonia Nazario (text) and Don Barletti (photos) titled "Enriques Journey: The Boy Left Behind", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, United States.
For the text and photos that capture in depth but with compassion the heart-wrenching reality of an illegal migrant.
Honorable Mention: to Miriam Inés McCormick and Silvia Camargo from the Semana magazine, Bogota, Colombia titled, "Lecciones de una tragedia".
For reporting with sensitivity the struggle of a family against a fatal disease.
8. Photography sponsored by El País, Montevideo, Uruguay and ABC Color,
Asunción, Paraguay, to Maria Inés Penacho from El Comercio, Lima,
Peru titled "Primer Paso".
For producing an image that delivers a photo opportunity with humanity and humor.
9. Cartoons sponsored by El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia.
No winner.
10. Infographics sponsored by Clarín, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Leonardo
Pérez from Semana magazine, Bogotá, Colombia titled "Asalto
al corazón de Cali".
For splendidly illustrating the elements of a complicated terrorist operation.
Honorable mention: to Patrick Zeller from the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio, Texas, United States titled, "Cloning-The Future on the Horizon."
For creating a graphic explanation that simplifies and illuminates a complex issue.
The Committee members are: Juan Luis Correa, La Prensa, Panama City, Panama; William Casey, Dow Jones & Co., New York, New York,; Gerardo García Gamboa, Novedades de Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico; Carlos Besanson, Diario del Viajero, Buenos Aires, Argentina; María Ofelia Cerro Moral, La Industria de Trujillo y Chiclayo, Lima, Peru; Felipe T. Edwards, El Mercurio, Santiago, Chile; Demócrito Dummar, O Povo, Ceará, Brazil; Francisco Fascetto, El Día, La Plata, Argentina; Alejandro González P., El Rancagüino, Rancagua, Chile; André Luis Jungblut, Gazeta do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil; J. Gerardo López, La Opinión, Los Angeles, California; Michael McGuire, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois; Francisco Montes, El Diario de Cuyo, Cuyo, Argentina; Fernando M. Portella, Editora O Día, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Christopher S. Roberts, The Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica; Carlos Salinas, El Diario de Coahuila, Coahuila, Mexico; and Paul K. Scripps, E.W. Scripps Company, San Diego, California.
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