IP/00/1408
Brussels, 5 December 2000
Commission awards Lorenzo Natali Prize for
journalism on development, human rights and the
environment
The European Commission has awarded the Lorenzo Natali Prize for
Journalism 2000 jointly to four European and developing countries
journalists for articles on development and human rights focussing on
poverty, women's issues and the environment. The Developing World
category winners are Atiya Achak Ulwisut of Thailand’s Bangkok Post and
Fariah Razak Haroon, freelancing for Pakistan’s Dawn Magazine. First prize
in the European Union (EU) 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. European
Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson,
confirmed the choice made by the Jury and congratulated the winners. "The
winning articles clearly illustrate that respect for human rights and improving
basic social conditions must be the basis of development world-wide", he
said.
The Natali Prize, named after the late Commissioner for development and
campaigner of human rights causes, is awarded annually to two journalists reporting
on democracy and human rights as vital aspects of development – one journalist
from the EU and one from the South. This year exceptionally the two €10,000 first
prizes are shared between four outstanding winners.
In its report the Jury states it appreciates the efforts of the EU and the International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in promoting journalism in the area of Human Rights
and Development. It strongly feels that the Lorenzo Natali Award can stimulate
accurate and reliable coverage of democracy and human rights issues across the
globe.
Journalists from North and South were invited to submit their work for consideration.
Over one hundred entries were received from leading media organisations in 42
countries. The IFJ manages the Prize on behalf of the European Commission, and
has invited seven prominent journalists working in the field of development and
human rights to act as the jury.
The Awards: Developing World
Atiya Achakulwisut, who reports for Thailand’s 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 agreed that three other articles deserved special commendation : Dorette
Deutsch for “Die traurigen Bräute der Zadrima”, published by Süddeutsche Zeitung
in Munich, Germany; Alain Lallemand for a series of articles on the war against
drugs in Colombia, published by Le Soir in Brussels, Belgium, and John
Kunnappally for a five part series “Slumbers in the toxic land”, published by Malyala
Manorama in Kerala, India
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. John Kunnappally's “Slumbers in the toxic land” highlights
the pollution of fresh water and air as a result of an industrial scandal in Kerala,
India.
Finally, the Jury decided to commend two news agencies: “Syfia”, based in France,
for their laudable efforts to spread valuable information that focuses on the problems,
challenges and success stories of rural areas of the developing world, and “O Povo”
based in Brazil for its comprehensive coverage of regional problems in a poor part of
Brazil.
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The Jury
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 German International Institute of Journalism; 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 IPSInter Press Service.
Last year's prize winners
Last year the prize was awarded to Robert Mugagga for the article Prison Warders
in Horror Tortures, published by The Monitor, Uganda, and to Ole Damkjaer for an
article on Indonesia, published by Berlingske Tidende, Denmark
Earlier prize winners include Reporters sans frontières, Y. Bégoto Oulatar, Director
de N’Djamena Hebdo, Chad, and Palagummi Sainath, free lance reporter for The
Times of India, India.
Further information concerning the Prize-winning entries from:
Peter Prüfert – Director of the International Institute of Journalism
Tel.: ++49-30-25433-372
Fax: ++49-30-25433-376
E-Mail: p_pruefert@zabt.dse.de
http://www.dse.de/iij/iij-e.htm
Neena Jacob – Coordinator of India Development Information Network
Tel: (91) 11 3711401, 3710555 (ext 207)
Fax: (91) 11 3710717
Email: http://www.indev.org/
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 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
http://www.ifj.org/
Directorate General for Development,
Information unit,
Fax: +32.2.299.25.25
Email: development@cec.eu.int
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