Grand Prize awarded to Ecuadorean cartoonist Xavier Bonilla (Bonil)
MIAMI, Florida (July 23, 2015)—The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today announced the list of winners and recipients of honorable mentions that the organization grants each year to outstanding journalists and newspapers throughout the Western Hemisphere. This year the IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom was awarded to Ecuadorean cartoonist Xavier Bonilla (nicknamed Bonil) of the newspaper El Universo for the high quality of his professional work and courage in defense of freedom of the press and of expression, and as an exemplary representation of Ecuadorian journalists subjected to government harassment.
The information was provided by Marcela Noble Herrera of the Argentine newspaper Clarín, chair of the IAPA’s Awards Committee. The Committee selected the winners in 13 categories, with the awards to be presented during the IAPA’s 71st General Assembly to be held October 2-6 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina.
“The contest seeks to highlight the extraordinary work of reporters, photographers and illustrators committed to a journalism of quality, and in this edition we had a record participation – more than 1,000 entrants – which reflects the great interest in the awards,” Noble Herrera said.
Xavier Bonilla, more widely known by his pseudonym Bonil, was born in Ecuador on April 8, 1964 and currently works for the newspaper El Universo and the magazine Vistazo. A strong defender of the role of humor as a basis for freedom of expression and a vital element of democracy, he has been persecuted and watched over by the Rafael Correa government. In March 2015 he denounced to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) the state control of the media, self-censorship, fines and threats presumably the object of which are Ecuadorean journalists and news media they work for. In the previous contest the IAPA awarded him a Special Mention in the Cartoon Award category.
The awards consist of $2,000 in cash, plaques and diplomas. “The quest for excellence is also a way of defending freedom of the press and of expression. This year we awarded the IAPA Grand Prize to Bonil, who has stood out both for his work and for his commitment to press freedom,” declared IAPA President Gustavo Mohme, editor of La República, Lima, Perú.
Following are the categories and the names of those entrants who won awards and received honorable mentions:
1. Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Inter-American Relations Award (sponsored by La Prensa, Managua, Nicaragua)
Carlos Eduardo Huertas, CONNECTAS CE; Juan Camilo Maldonado, Vice; David Bustos y Edilma Prada Céspedes, Agenda Propia (Colombia); Cristian Ascencio Ojeda, Tamara Miranda Varela, Rodrigo Selles Ferrés, Edgard Cross Buchanan, Brice Le Borgne, Miguel Coaquira, Macarena Sánchez, El Mercurio de Antofagasta (Chile); Dánae Rivadeneyra, Utero.Pe (Perú): El nuevo éxodo latino. (The New Latin Exodus).
The series of reports on the predicament of the new Colombian migration phenomenon on the border with Chile is a solid and multiple investigation that shows the possibilities of collaboration among media of various nations. It serves as a very useful resource for understanding the reasons why thousands of Colombians leave their country, the proliferation of mafias and the treatment of people on the Peru-Chile border. Outstanding is the integration in the final article of each of the works carried out by various journalists.
At the same time the Adjudication Panel decided to grant an Honorary Mention to the report by Nelson Ricardo Matta Colorado of El Colombiano, Colombia, titled La caravana del papel periódico a Venezuela (The Caravan of Newsprint to Venezuela). The work on the great lack of newsprint in Venezuela as a governmental means of pressure brings to light a crucial issue that is harming press freedom. The author, who accompanied the caravan at the risk to his life from Cartagena to Caracas produced an interesting, readable and lucid story.
2. Human Rights and Service to the Community Award (sponsored by Panamá-América, Panama City, Panamá; El Comercio, Lima, Perú; Organización Publicitaria, S.A., San Pedro Sula, Honduras; La Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
María Eugenia Valentié, of La Gaceta, Tucumán, Argentina: Crónicas angoleñas (Angolan Articles).
An impressive report on the work of Argentine Catholic missionaries and evangelists in Angola. The journalist follows the path of the volunteers through the entangled villages, sharply describes the problems and what is lacking in this African nation and the difficulties and spirit of sacrifice of the missionaries.
The Adjudication Panel also decided to grant an Honorable Mention to the editorial team of El Nacional, Venezuela (David González, Laura Helena Castillo, Franz Von Bergen, Emily Avendaño, Edgar López, Alejandro Hernández, María Victoria Fermín, Fabiola Zerpa, Adriana Rivera), for the series Cobertura sobre crisis política en Venezuela (Coverage of The Political Crisis In Venezuela). This focuses on the political and human rights crisis in February to May 2014, when there arose numerous street protests and riots in various cities throughout the country. It is a courageous description of the events, with a solid reasoning and suitable balance of sources and opinions. It shows a diverse use of complementary material (photos, graphics and infographics).
3. Newspaper in Education Award (sponsored by Canal 10 television, Uruguay, and El Diario de Hoy, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Ana Sofia Carreço de Oliveira, Fabiano Peres, Leonardo Gomes da Silva, Mônica Jorge, Raquel Fabris, Jacson Almeida, Viviane Araujo, Diário Catarinense, Brazil: DC na sala de aula (DC in the classroom).
An excellent project that promotes the participation of teachers, students and the community through the voting for various school proposals. A critical focus and thematic variety of the publication, with an emphasis on social aspects. There is feedback on the Internet, promoting interaction with the reader. Brilliant design thought out for young readers.
At the same time the Adjudication Panel granted an Honorable Mention to the team of Andiarios and several affiliated newspapers, Colombia, for the Best Press School Articles Contest. The competitive project, with an impeccable structure, promotes a critical look by the students to the work of the press and encourages young people to participate. It encourages reading and writing, with an emphasis on school journalism.
4. Opinion Award (sponsored by El Mercurio, Santiago, Chile)
Barbara Celis, of the magazine El Estado Mental, Spain: ¿A quién le importa la realidad? (Who Cares About The Reality?)
The work, supported by numerous examples, invites one to reflect on the rampant lies and false truths that tend to be published in certain news media. It is, above all, a denunciation of sensationalist and frivolous journalism and a critical recourse for the reader, who often passively receives this misinformed diet.
At the same time the Adjudication Panel decided to grant an Honorable Mention to Cristina Judith Ávila-Zesatti, of Eme-Equis, Mexico, for ¿De verdad, “todos somos Ayotzinapa”? (Are We Really All From Ayotzinapa?). The work is a critical look at the tragedy of Ayotzinapa, in which 43 students disappeared. Far from repeating the accusations against the political apparatus it analyzes the joint responsibility of Mexican society in this and other criminal acts of corruption and violation of human rights.
5. News Coverage Award (Sponsored by El Nacional, Caracas, Venezuela, and O Estado de S. Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil)
Natalia Gómez Carvajal, María Luisa Tabares, Álvaro Lesmes, Ernesto Cortés Fierro, Richard Revelo, David Rubio, Ana María García, Carlos Ortega, Víctor Álvarez, Sally Palomino, Guillermo Ossa, El Tiempo, Colombia, El Tiempo, Colombia: América Latina, la región más inequitativa (Latin America, The Most Inequitable Region).
Regarding the 7th World Urban Forum (WUF7) the publication created a parallel multimedia newsroom that traveled to Medellín and carried out detailed coverage of the meeting. It shows abundant testimonies of national and international experts and urban planners, as well as other attendees. Standing out is the correct use of photos and infographics.
The Adjudication Panel decided to grant an Honorable Mention to the team of Esquire magazine, Mexico (Nathalie Iriarte Villavicencio, Pablo Ferri, Mael David Vallejo, Manuel Martínez), for El cuerpo de Erika vuelve a casa (Erika’s Body Comes Home). It is a highly emotional reconstruction of the circumstances that led to the death of teenager Erika Gómez González following an alleged clash between members of the military and criminals in Tlatlaya, Mexico State, where another 21 people also died. Esquire describes the journey of Erika’s body to her home in Arcelia, Guerrero state, with the heartbreaking and emotional words of her mother and brothers.
6. In-Depth Reporting Award (Sponsored by La República, Perú)
Daniel Santoro, Nicolás Wiñazki, Lucía Salinas, Lucio Fernández Moores y Nicolás Pizzi, Clarín, Argentina: La ruta del dinero K (The K Money Route).
An excellent investigation of denunciation on the case of corruption and money laundering said to involve former president Néstor Kirchner and his wife, President Cristina Kirchner. The published evidence led to a formal charge – unlawful enrichment and fraudulent administration – against Lázaro Báez, alleged author of the sending abroad of 55 million euros. A magnificent handling of public documentation and databases. A rigorous and convincing argumentation accompanied by photographic and infographics material.
In addition the Adjudication Panel decided to grant an Honorable Mention to the editorial team of O Globo, Brazil (Vinicius Sassine, José Casado, Danielle Nogueira, Eduardo Bresciani), for Farra de aditivos na refinaria Abreu e Lima (Addives Binge in the Abreu e Lima Refinery). A relevant demonstration of investigative journalism into a case of corruption and lack of transparency by the Brazilian state-owned company Petrobras. It discloses excessive expenditure – a 770 per cent increase and 141 changes to the original contract – in the construction of the Abreu e Lima Noreste refinery (Rnest) in the Suape industrial and port complex in the Recife metropolitan district. A balanced and convincing analysis with an abundance of documentary proof, a good use of additional graphic material.
7. Features Award (Sponsored by El Comercio, Quito, Ecuador, and McClatchy Newspapers, Sacramento, California)
Roberto Valencia, El Faro, El Salvador. La ciudad del mago (The Magician’s City).
It relates the life in Cádiz, Spain, of the person regarded as the best footballer in the history of El Salvador, Mágico González. A beautiful biographical sketch of the star which shows the player’s unique personality – legend and myth – and the devotion to him given by that city. A combination of journalistic resources – feature, interview, reporting, investigation, it includes photos and video of the subject.
The Adjudication Panel also decided to grant an Honorable Mention to Juan Mascardi, of Yorokobu Mag, Spain, for En el Hotel California no hay siquiera un cuadro de los Eagles (In the California Hotel There Is Not Even One Picture Of The Eagles). An interesting and emotional description of the possible origin of the popular song “California Hotel” by the American rock group The Eagles. The author seeks to reconstruct from the supposed site in Baja California the story of one of the most prominent music composers of the 1970s. He narrates the untiring search of paths and this amounts to a simple and pleasant narrative. Numerous photos complement the story.
8. Photography Award (Sponsored by The Washington Post Company, Washington, D.C., and ABC Color, Asunción, Paraguay)
Sebastião Salgado, IANOMÂMIS. A Guerra de un povo entre a vida e a norte (The War Of A People Between Life And The North), O Globo, Brazil.
The series of photos constitutes a piece of material of enormous anthropological and sociological value. The author gathered faithfully and with respect the “reahu,” a funeral rite in honor of a hunter. It concerns the survivors of 13 nomadic mountain tribes on the Amazonas-Roraima border. The images, of a high quality, show the spirituality and love of the Ianomâmis for their “woodland.”
In addition the Adjudication Panel decided to grant two Honorable Mentions, the first to Simone Dalmasso of Plaza Pública, Guatemala, for her Retratos de la Zafra (Pictures of the Harvest). Impressive images of the inhuman conditions in which day workers toil in the Guatemalan farms. Pictures of great aesthetic value of the sugarcane cutters during the harvest period. The second to Miguel Ángel Mejía Castro, of La República, Perú, for El dolor del retorno (The Pain of Returning). The author manages to beautifully capture the pain and desolation of the families of disappeared people in Peru, and the responsible and sensitive work of the medical examiners. The matter of the 69,000 disappeared people and victims of political violence between 1980 and 2000 continues to be of key importance for society. Here are shown only 19 graves found in the mountains.
9. Cartoon Award (Sponsored by El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia)
Víctor Zenobio Sanjinez García, of El Comercio, Perú: Crisis en Venezuela (Crisis In Venezuela).
The illustrations reflect, with symbolism, wit and mastery of technique of drawing, the establishment of a dictatorship in Venezuela and its corollary: the loss of the state of law and the penetration of the Cuban government in major institutions the country, mainly in the repressive apparatus.
In addition the Adjudication Panel granted an Honorable Mention to Pablo Bernasconi, of La Nación, Argentina, for Estela de Carlotto (Estela de Carlotto). The author cleverly describes the personality of Estela de Carlotto, president of the Plaza de Mayo Grandmothers Association. After a 36-year search the organization was able to precisely locate her grandson Guido. The news, interpreted by the author, tells of a problem that still traumatizes Argentine society.
10. Infographics Award (Sponsored by Clarín, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Gustavo Alberto Cannia Moore, Nei Lima, O´Dia, Brasil, O labirinto de Getúlio, O Dia, Brazil: O labirinto de Getúlio (The Getúlio Maze).
It reconstructs in great detail a very important moment in the history of Brazil – the suicide of President Getulio Vargas, the most influential Brazilian politician of the 20th century. A combination of text, drawing and photos it is outstanding for the rigor and care of the details. Valuable information and good resolution in the images of his life.
The Adjudication Panel also decided to grant an Honorable Mention to the team of La Prensa Gráfica, El Salvador (Moris Aldana, Jorge Luis Contreras, Óscar Armando Rivas, René Arturo Rivas), for Mundial Brazil 2014 (2014 Brazil World Cup), a large-scale inforgraphic which in a tight one-page synthesis offers an exhaustive picture of the great championship with the display of attractive images. The visual resolution is outstanding.
11. News Coverage on Internet Award (Sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, New York)
Octavio Alfonso Enríquez Cabistán, of Confidencial magazine, Nicaragua.
La contrarreforma de Ortega (Ortega’s Counter-Reform). An exhaustive, comprehensive and rigorous description of the process through which the Nicaraguan president concentrated more power and ensured his indefinite re-election. Agile and precise writing. Diversity of sources and opinions of analysts, former members of the military, philosophers and sociologists, among others.
In addition the Adjudication Panel decided to grant two Honorable Mentions, the first to Saúl Hernández, of El Universal, Mexico, for México, el poder de mineras (Mexico, The Power Of Mining Companies), an in-depth denunciation of the unlawful activities of these companies in the country. The use of multimedia resources facilitates the understanding of a complex matter that presents detailed information.
The second for the collective work of several media (Lourdes Ramírez, Ruben Escobar, Diario Tiempo, Honduras; Ana Silvia Monzón, La Cuerda; Antonio Barrios, Prensa Libre, Guatemala; Amanda Rodas, Grupo Cerca; Alexander Mejía, Radio Bálsamo, El Salvador): Muertes violentas de mujeres en el triángulo norte (Violent Deaths of Women in the Northern Triangle). The investigation reactivated attention to the violent deaths of women in Honduras. The result of a collaborative project, part of the initiative for Investigative Journalism in the Americas, sponsored by the International Center for Journalists and CONNECTAS.org, it is outstanding for its breadth and depth, the multiplicity of sources and the good use of photos and graphics.
12. Alejandro Miró Quesada Garland Multimedia Coverage Award (Sponsored by El Comercio, Lima, Perú)
Lalo de Almeida, Eduardo Geraque, Fernando Canzian, Rafael Garcia, Dimmi Amora, Marcelo Leite, Fábio Marra, Mário Kanno, Rogério Pilker, Lucas Zimmermann, David Garroux, André Moscatelli, Bruno Scatena, Douglas Lambert, Folha de S. Paulo, Brasil: Líquido e incerto (Liquid and Uncertain).
A brilliant combination of multimedia resources illustrating in depth and with historical accuracy the reasons for the water crisis in Brazil. It denounces incontrovertible evidence of the lack of foresight and preparation by government officials at all levels and the negative impact of such lack of control on the ecosystem.
In addition the Adjudication Panel granted an Honorable Mention to the collective work of El Tiempo, Colombia (Natalia Bonnett Alonso, José Antonio Sánchez, Carlos Restrepo, Diego Santos, Julio César Guzmán, Alejandro Urueña, Sandra Merino) for Macondo está de luto (Macondo Is In Mourning), an attractive combination of images, audio and text to pay homage to Nobel Literature Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez on the occasion of his death at the age of 87. Testimonies of friends, colleagues and experts highlight the brilliance of his work.
13. Roberto Eisenmann Jr. Journalism on the Environment Award (Sponsored by La Prensa, Panamá)
Carlos Salinas Maldonado, Octavio Enríquez, Carlos Herrera, Revista Confidencial, Nicaragua, Confidencial magazine, Nicaragua: El ocaso de BOSAWAS (The Sunset of BOSAWAS).
It denounces, rigorously and with versatility of journalistic resources, the destruction of the Bosawas jungle, a UNESCO biosphere reserve in Nicaragua, and its impact on the Mayangnas indigenous people. Revealed is the role of political interests, which directly involve leaders of the Frente Sandinista, the country’s leading political party. Stupendous use of videos, infographics, interactive maps, timelines and galleries of images.
The Adjudication Panel decided to grant an Honorable Mention to Irma Elizabeth Palacio López, of El Nuevo Diario, Nicaragua, for Los nicaragüenses y el impacto del Canal Interoceánico (Nicaraguans And The Impact Of The Inter-Ocean Canal), a series of five reports about the potential damages to the atmosphere that would be brought by construction of the planned Inter-Ocean Canal. It is outstanding for solid argument concerning an issue of great actuality, with the views of various players, business owners, fishermen and residents. Magnificent use of photographic and video material.
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IAPA Awards Committee
Chairman: Marcela Noble Herrera, Grupo Clarín, Argentina
Vice chairman: Carlos Salinas, El Diario de Coahuila, Saltillo, México
Members:
Armando Castilla, Vanguardia, Saltillo, México Ascanio Seleme, O Globo, Río de Janeiro, Brasil Bruce B. Brugmann, San Francisco Bay Guardian, San Francisco, Estados Unidos Carlos Jornet, La Voz del Interior, Córdoba, Argentina Christopher Barnes, The Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica Claudia Martínez, Buenos Aires, Argentina Eduardo Quirós, La Estrella de Panamá, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá Ernesto Kraiselburd, El Día, La Plata, Argentina Iary Gómez Quesada, Diario Extra, San José, Costa Rica Isabel Amorin Sicherle, El País, Madrid, España Iván García, Frecuencia Latina, Lima, Perú Jaime Ruíz Moreno, Novedades de Campeche, Campeche, México José Luis Parra, El Mercurio, Santiago de Chile, Chile Juan Diego Etchevehere, Diario Argentina, Paraná, Argentina Marcelo Baldovino, Saeta TV Canal 10, Montevideo, Uruguay Paola Hernández, Diario Extra, San José, Costa Rica Rashidan Bolai, Caribbean Telecomunication Network/Trinidad Express, Puerto España, Trinidad y Tobago Saturnino Herrero Mitjans, Grupo Clarín, Buenos Aires, Argentina Virginia María Fetter, Diario Popular Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil
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