Journalists from Colombia have won a major award in Germany for their reporting on displaced persons.
The German Development Media Awards recognized the work of the journalists involved in “Proyecto Rosa”, a multimedia website that highlights the plight of those who were illegally pushed off their lands, and their fight to return.
“This prize is awarded to journalists who courageously report on their country’s development and especially the human rights situation – and they do this under very difficult circumstances,” said the German Development Minister, who presented the award on Thursday.
Proyecto Rosa was set up a year ago with the help of political news website La Silla Vacia. It tells the story of Rosa Amelia Hernandez, a 60-year-old mother of four who had her land taken from her by paramilitary forces in 2007. Through her fight to regain her land she became a figurehead for displaced persons throughout Colombia.
The project uses video, art, online campaigns and songs to publicize Rosa’s fight and that of the other leaders of the displaced community.
Its multimedia approach was recognized by the judging panel, who described the report as making use of “all journalistic possibilities provided by the Internet.”
The German Development Media Awards began in 1975. This year more than 900 journalists competed for just seven awards.
Source
- La Silla y sus Súper Amigos ganan Premio Alemán de Periodismo y Desarrollo por el Proyecto Rosa (La Silla Vacia)
- Courageous journalists win human rights prize (DW)
- Proyecto Rosa (Proyecto Rosa)