» Press » Press releases » Press Release 5
Español | English | Português

Winners of the Latin American Award for Drug Related Journalism will be recognized

The ceremony will be held at the Third Latin American Conference on Drug Policy, on Tuesday, September 13 at 5.30 pm in Salon Mexico in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located in Dakota No. 95, Colonia Nápoles.

Mexican journalist Guillermo Osorno, author of the article “Who Killed the mayor?” , Published in December 2010 in the newspaper Gatopardo, was selected as the winner of the Latin American Award for Drug Related Journalism, organized by the Civil Association Intercambios with support from the Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS). The story chronicles the transformation of the city of Monterrey, with the emergence of drug-related violence.

The jury, composed of Martin Caparros (Argentina), Andrea Dominguez Duque (Colombia) and Robert Valencia (El Salvador), favored the narrative style, the diversity of sources, the selection of topic and its presentation.

The second award went to the Brazilians Thiago Sarmento aned Wagner Neuenschwander for their article “Reef Connection” (Jornal do Commercio, January 16, 2011). The jury noted: “They show the human drama of the mules without being apologetic to the crime, the failure of the war against drugs and how the crops have spread to other countries.”

Juan Ignacio Provéndola of Argentina ranked third with the article “A blunt doesn´t stain” (Revista THC). In addition, an honorable mention was awarded to Ricano Yetel Noguera, author of “Witnesses of the smoke, the creators of it” (Tiempo 21, Cuba), an article which follows a person suffering from cancer, as a result of smoking tobacco.

Latin American Award for Drug Related Journalism, aims to recognize journalists who address drug-related issues with commitment through serious and trustworthy information. The award and ceremony was sponsored by the Open Society Foundation and support from PAHO.

Graciela Touzé, president of Intercambios ,a nongovernmental organization sponsoring the award, noted that these journalistic works explore “ …from the impacts of drugs in the city, the issue of micro-trafficking, the discussion about the criminalization of consumption, to the health effect of legal drugs . That is, a broad overview of specific tracks within the overall drug problem. “

With the certainty of accepting journalism as a public service where accurate information should prevail, presented with meaning and sense, the Latin American Journalism Award on Drugs is an initiative that aims to highlight a different way of reporting.

Awards Ceremony

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 5:30 PM

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Salon Mexico

Dakota No. 95, Colonia Naples.

More information:

http://conferenciadrogas.com/2011/prensa/concurso-para-periodistas/dictamen-del-jurado

Press Contacts

Mexico: +52 (55) 5658 6518 CUPIHD

Silvia Solis (Mexico cell): +04455 1006 7647 /

From outside Mexico dial: 00521 55 1006 7647

prensamexico@conferenciadrogas.com / capulin2000@gmail.com / jhernandez@cupihd.org

For all other countries: +54 11 4954 7272 (Exchange)

Horacio Torres: +54 9 11 15 6794 6315 / Romina Ruffato: +54 9 11 15 5488 4033