ICFJ Honorees Fight for Journalism that Defends the Truth in Divisive Times

By: ICFJ | 11/08/2019
Joyce with winners 2019

Last night, at ICFJ’s 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner, we celebrated outstanding journalists who speak truth to power and have great impact. The honorees challenged journalists to fight corruption, speak up for the powerless and stand up to those who seek to distort the truth. 

  • Marty Baron, executive editor of the Washington Post, called on journalists to be “unshakably committed to our mission in a democracy.” He said journalists have no alternative but to push back against those who cynically distort the truth in the service of political ambition. Baron was honored with the ICFJ Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism for a lifetime commitment to the highest professional standards. Read more or watch his tribute video and remarks.
  • Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News’ senior international correspondent, said strong international reporting is one of the most powerful weapons against “dog-whistle populism” and politicians who work to divide people into “us” and “them.” She received ICFJ’s Excellence in International Reporting Award for her courageous reports from global hotspots. Read more or watch her tribute video and remarks.
  • Serbia is a good case study for how autocrats dismantle a democracy, said Knight Award winner Stevan Dojčinović, founder of the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) in Serbia. He said his country is a weak democracy compared to the U.S. but warned that the same thing could happen here, beginning with undermining the media. Read more or watch his tribute video and remarks.
  • Journalists must strive to tell stories that change perceptions and make people’s lives better, said Rose Wangui, a features reporter with Kenya’s NTV and our other Knight Award honoree. She tackles tough issues such as sexual bondage of young girls and violence against Kenyan women workers overseas with great compassion. Read more or watch her tribute video and remarks.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer served as master of ceremonies for the evening. New Yorker and CBS News cartoonist Liza Donnelly provided live coverage of the night’s event. Please check out her terrific drawings, and our photo gallery.

We want to thank all of you who made a donation to support our programs that empower an unparalleled global network of journalists. Our work is more essential than ever, so please consider making a contribution. 

We’re so glad you could join us for this special celebration of great journalism.

Latest News

ICFJ se Suma a Otras 9 Organizaciones Internacionales Para Presentar un Amicus Curiae en el Caso del Periodista Guatemalteco Encarcelado José Rubén Zamora

Un grupo de 10 organizaciones internacionales presentó esta semana un amicus curiae ante la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Guatemala en el caso del periodista José Rubén Zamora Marroquín. El amicus, presentado el 26 de marzo, argumenta que el retorno de Zamora a prisión preventiva constituye una violación de sus derechos fundamentales bajo el derecho guatemalteco e internacional, e insta a la Corte a otorgar un recurso de amparo pendiente y permitir que el Sr. Zamora lleve su proceso bajo medidas sustitutivas.

ICFJ Joins 9 Other International Organizations in Submitting Amicus Brief in Case of Imprisoned Guatemalan Journalist José Rubén Zamora

A group of 10 international organizations submitted an amicus curiae brief to Guatemala’s Supreme Court in the case of journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín. The brief, filed on March 26, argues that Zamora’s return to preventive detention constitutes a violation of his fundamental rights under Guatemalan and international law, and urges the Court to grant a pending amparo appeal and allow Zamora to return to house arrest.

Press Freedom on Campus: Why it Matters and What Student Journalists Need Most

In February, ICFJ partnered with Vanderbilt University and Freedom Forum, with support from the Lumina Foundation, to bring university faculty and students, international and U.S. journalists, and media leaders together for a discussion about the importance of press freedom in democratic societies. Participants stressed how U.S.-based journalists can learn from the experiences of their colleagues abroad, and they dived into the challenges campus reporters face, such as a lack of funding and harassment from fellow students, offered advice for engaging audiences, and more.