The veteran journalist had been investigating politically sensitive issues ranging from government corruption to the trafficking of drugs, people and weapons, until fears for his life and his family's safety forced him to seek asylum in Canada.
(CJFE/IFEX) – Toronto, June 23 2011 – Scotiabank, together with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) and Massey College, are pleased to announce that Luis Horacio Nájera has been awarded the Scotiabank/CJFE Journalism Fellowship at Massey College. This unique opportunity is a two-semester fellowship for a mid-career journalist from South America, Central America, the Caribbean or Mexico.
“We want to congratulate Luis Horacio Nájera on his selection. His passion and dedication to the practice of journalism and commitment to free expression stood out among other applicants and made him an ideal recipient of the Scotiabank/CJFE Fellowship at Massey College,” said Wendy Hannam, Executive Vice-President, Sales and Service, Products and Marketing, Scotiabank.
Luis Horacio Nájera is a veteran journalist who reported for Reforma media group in Ciudad Juárez and other hotspot areas along the Mexican-US border. Throughout his career he has dedicated himself to investigating politically sensitive issues ranging from government corruption to the trafficking of drugs, people and weapons, until fears for his life and his family’s safety forced him to seek asylum in Canada. In 2010, Nájera’s courage was recognised with one of CJFE’s International Press Freedom Awards, shared with fellow Mexican exiled journalist Emilio Gutiérrez Soto.
Nájera will join an outstanding group of Canadian and international journalists as part of the 2011 Journalism Fellows.
“My deepest gratitude to Scotiabank, Massey College and CJFE for this honour. It is a privilege and a great commitment to be part of this select group, which will provide me with another forum to keep working for free expression on behalf of Latin American journalists,” said Nájera. “Furthermore, this Fellowship gives me the opportunity to keep going and to keep working for a better future in Canada for me and for my family.”
