(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 5 December 2000 IFJ press release: Human Rights and Development in the Headlines: Joint Award for European Union Journalism Prize The International Federation of Journalists today announced the award winners of the European Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalism. The Natali Prize, named after the late Commissioner for development […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 5 December 2000 IFJ press release:
Human Rights and Development in the Headlines: Joint Award for European Union Journalism Prize
The International Federation of Journalists today announced the award winners of the European Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalism. The Natali Prize, named after the late Commissioner for development and campaigner of human rights causes, is awarded annually to journalists reporting on democracy and human rights as vital aspects of development.
This year the two 10,000 Euro first prizes – one for journalists from the European Union, the other for journalists from the South – are shared between four outstanding winners.
The Developing World category winners are Atiya Achak Ulwisut of Thailand’s The Nation and Fariah Razak Haroon, freelancing for Pakistan’s Dawn Magazine.
First prize in the European Union category goes to Marco Bello and Paolo Moiola writing for Italy’s Mondo e Missione and Astrid Prange, a freelance contributor to the Deutsches Allgemeines Sonntagsblatt.
“These pieces demonstrate that hard-edged and professional journalism plays a vital role in showing how the well-meaning aspirations of human rights declarations touch peoples’ lives,” said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ, which organises the annual award. “The judges sifted through entries from human rights and development reporters in 44 countries. Their overall assessment is that media, particularly in northern developed countries, must give greater prominence to this area of reporting.”
Journalists from North and South were invited to submit their work for consideration by a Jury of prominent journalists working in the field of development and human rights. Over one hundred entries were received from leading media organisations.
The Awards: Developing World
Atiya Achakulwisut, who reports for Thailand’s The Nation and Bangkok Post, reported on Karen villagers in Thailand facing environmental disaster as toxic pollution from an upstream lead mine destroys their fresh water supply. Atiya’s well-crafted journalism stirred the Thai authorities into action to address the problem.
Fariha Razak Haroon’s lead story in Dawn Magazine “Women are Falling Behind” tackles the issue of women’s rights violations in Pakistan. Jury member Victoria Brittain, Deputy Foreign Editor of The Guardian in the United Kingdom, praised Haroon’s brave effort to touch “on what is arguably the most important human rights and development issue there is.”
The Awards: European Union
“An exceptional piece of honest development and human rights journalism” sums up the Jury assessment of the work of Marco Bello and Paolo Moiola, writing for Italy’s Mondo e Missione. This young team of journalists presented a powerful picture of Haiti’s social and political conditions in a captivating and unassuming journalistic style.
The second winning entry concerns the courage of a young Guinean woman who sought refuge in Germany to escape the degradation and torment of female genital mutilation, justified in the name of tradition. Eva Camará, the first African woman to apply for asylum in Germany on the basis of “cultural” persecution, was the subject of Astrid Prange de Oliveira’s “Angst vor dem Blut”, published in Deutsches Allgemeines Sonntagsblatt. Her moving and skilful report persuaded the Jury to nominate two winners in this category.
The Awards: Special Commendations
The Jury selected two other pieces for special mention: a series written by Alain Lallemand and published in Belgium’s Le Soir and “Die traurigen Bräute der Zadrima”, written by freelance journalist Dorette Deutsche and published in Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung. They said that both deserved special commendation and both were serious contenders for the award.
Lallemand’s series provided comprehensive coverage of the drugs trade in Colombia, touching on generally neglected aspects of journalistic coverage of the issue – the situation of peasants and the true role of guerrillas and paramilitaries in this troubled South American country’s conflict. Dorette Deutsche’s “Die traurigen Bräute der Zadrima” explores the human drama of thousands of Albanian young women forced to join prostitution rings in Western Europe through fake ”marriages” organised by the Mafia.
Neena Jacob, Coordinator of the India Development Information Network based in New Delhi, chaired the Jury for the prize this year. Other members are: Julio Godoy, SWD correspondent and founder of the Guatemalan weekly La Epoca; Victoria Brittain, Deputy Foreign Editor of The Guardian; Peter Prüfert, Director of the International Institute of Journalism of the German Foundation for International Development; François Misser, author and contributor to various European and African publications; Axel Buyse, Foreign Editor of Belgium’s De Standaard newspaper; and Alejandro Kirk, Editor of IPS-Inter Press Service.
Background on the origins and organisation of the Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalism can be obtained from Andrew Clark or Bettina Peters at the International Federation of Journalists, from the spokesman for development issues, Mr. Michael Curtis, or from the information service of the Directorate General for Development of the European Commission.
Andrew Clark / Bettina Peters
International Federation of Journalists Projects Office
Tel: +32 2 223 37 29
Fax: +32 2 223 03 43
Email: prize@ifj.org
Michael Curtis
European Commission
Email: Michael.curtis@cec.eu.int
Directorate General for Development
Information unit
Fax : +32 2 299 25 25
Email: development@cec.eu.int