Media Awards Announced
San
Francisco: New America Media, the country’s first
and largest association of ethnic media, has announced the
winners of its First National Ethnic Media Awards, honoring
the sector’s contributions to American journalism.
Close to 600 ethnic media practitioners competed in 14 categories
for recognition in 19 categories, ranging from Investigative
Journalism to Best Community Talk Show. More than 50 judges
nationwide, from universities, mainstream media and community-based
organizations, came together via teleconference to judge
the entries over one week.
“Hurricane Katrina and immigration rights dominated
news in ethnic media over the last year,” says awards
coordinator Sandip Roy. “Each of these complex stories
reflects ethnic media’ s unique role as an advocacy
voice, as well as a vital source of news and information
for their audiences.”
Winners confound the conventional view of ethnic media as
operating in a cultural silo. This year’s winners
demonstrate ethnic media’s role in building understanding
between America’s ethnic communities while serving
their communities’ information needs.
Roy Lu, of Mandarin-language KSCI-TV in Los Angeles, traveled
to the US Mexican border to bring the issue of undocumented
immigrants to Chinese audiences.
Euy Hun Yi of The Korea Times became the first Korean-American
journalist to report from Afghanistan, where he found many
parallels with his home country after the Korean War.
As important as ethnic media are as community spokespersons,
this year’s awards also honors those unafraid to turn
a critical eye on their own communities.
Dennis Romero of Tu Ciudad magazine won the Best In Depth
Award for his vivid profiles of Latinos who staunchly oppose
illegal immigration, and even volunteer with the Minutemen.
Ray Hanania, an Arab-American columnist for a Jewish publication
and website, won Best Commentary for his humorous take on
some of the thorniest political issues of our time.
“Over the years that NAM has held awards, we’ve
seen more and more efforts by ethnic media outlets to help
their audiences understand each other, “ says Sandy
Close, executive director of NAM.
This year NAM honors Pilar Marrero of La Opinion and ReShonda
Billingsley of Houston Defender for reporting on black-brown
relations and for their exceptional coverage of the immigration
debate from the perspectives of both communities.
The awards will be presented at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington
DC on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 p.m.
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