Honduran radio reporter wins CABEI 2012 Central American Press Award
For the first time, in this opportunity, the contest was opened to the press of radio, television and Internet reporters. And precisely he was left with the award of 3 thousand dollars an electronic medium.
A three-installment radio report by Honduran Marja Pérez Ramírez of Radio HRN in Honduras won the 2012 Central American Development Journalism Award, which was presented by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) for the year’s best journalistic work on regional development.
CABEI’s “2012 Central American Development Journalism Competition” had record-breaking participation with 93 entries, including works from both electronic and print media by journalists from all the countries in the region. This is the first time that the competition has been open to electronic media, including radio, television and internet news programs, and it turned out that the US$3,000 award went to a work of radio journalism.
In the face of fierce competition, the sole prize of the third Central American development journalism competition was awarded to Ms. Marja Pérez Ramírez of La Voz de Honduras a program broadcast by Grupo Emisoras Unidas. Her radio report was presented in three installments and addressed current issues that impact regional development, such as public security, economics and poverty. She covered these issues as they were being discussed at the 39th Summit of Central American Heads of State, which met in Honduras in June 2012.
The jury’s ruling made the following observations about Ms. Marja Pérez Ramírez’s reporting:
"She focuses on human and social development from both a regional and local perspective, addressing and analyzing development indices and the achievement of the millennium development goals with reference to the current realities of our nations.
She addresses vital Central American issues including poverty, education, economics, integration, customs union and the agreement with the European Union. Other important issues mentioned in her reporting include competitiveness, globalization and foreign trade, the role of politicians, the lack of public security, crime, the war on drugs and social inequality in Central America. While dealing with these issues on a regional level, she also focuses on their impact on Honduras in particular.
Her extensive interviews with the area’s key leaders, ambassadors, ministers and representatives of the business sector and international organizations, including the European Union and CABEI, led weight and added perspective to her extensive report, providing the public with a rich analysis of regional development issues."
Three Central American journalists received Honorable Mentions for the outstanding depth and reach of the journalism they entered."
Honorable Mentions for CABEI’s 2012 Central American Press award were presented to:
- Journalist Oscar Núñez Olivas from the AFP news agency, for his report, "The Hard-to-Reach Millennium Development Goals in Central America."
- Journalist Jorge Carpio of Moneda, a weekly Central American journal, for his special report, "Assessment of the Central American Integration Process and Obstacles Facing It."
- Journalist María José Saavedra of El Economista Regional for his report, “High tension in the Central American Electrical Interconnection System.”
CABEI Executive President Dr. Nick Rischbieth emphasized that the Competition seeks to promote journalistic coverage of issues related to regional development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), through which CABEI seeks to improve the quality of life of Central Americans.
