RSF Spain honors Palestinian journalists in Gaza for their reporting in “the deadliest context”

Eduardo González Reporters Without Borders-Spain will hold the presentation ceremony for the first edition of the RSF Spain Awards on November 11, to mark its 30th anniversary. The awards will be given to, among others, Palestinian journalists in Gaza "in recognition of their reporting work in the deadliest context in history for journalism." The ceremony, which will take place in the CaixaForum Madrid Auditorium, will be hosted by Mamen Mendizábal, a journalist for La Sexta and presenter of "Anatomía de," and will feature an acoustic performance by the group Amaral, according to the organization's announcement last Thursday. The awardees are divided into two categories: the RSF Spain National Award and the RSF Spain International Award. The RSF Spain National Prize will be awarded to the local Valencian press for their coverage of the DANA disaster, which claimed the lives of 227 people almost a year ago. Representing this journalistic community will be Minerva Mínguez, an environmental reporting specialist and coordinator of DANA coverage for the newspaper ‘Levante-El Mercantil Valenciano’ (Prensa Ibérica), and Arturo Checa, Valencia section chief for the newspaper ‘Las Provincias’ (Vocento). Both will be accompanied by the editors of both outlets: Joan Carles Martí and Jesús Trelis, respectively. Separately, the jury awarded the RSF Spain International Prize to the Palestinian press in Gaza, "in recognition of their reporting work in the deadliest context in history for journalism." The award will be collected in person by renowned photojournalist Motaz Azaiza and journalist Ola al-Zanoun, RSF's correspondent in Palestine. Two of the few journalists who have managed to leave the enclave. During the ceremony, a tribute will be paid to Palestinian colleagues killed for their work. According to RSF, nearly 250 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army since October 2023. "Gazati reporters have worked for more than two years of offensive bombardment, forced displacement, hunger, and all kinds of hardships, fearing for their lives and grieving for the loss of family members and colleagues," according to the organization. Despite these unprecedented and extreme circumstances, they have continued to report to the world. For this reason, the jury awarded them the RSF Spain International Prize. Since October 7, 2023, RSF has filed five complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists in Gaza. Despite the recent ceasefire, the agreement does not provide access for the foreign press or establish mechanisms for the evacuation of local journalists. The organization once again calls for justice for the victims of these crimes, as well as immediate access for international media to the Palestinian enclave and the urgent evacuation of media professionals who wish to leave the territory. The jury is composed of 30 prominent figures from the journalistic and academic worlds. Its members include Pepa Bueno, former editor of El País and presenter of Telediario 2; Julián Quirós, editor of ABC; Jordi Juan Raja, editor of La Vanguardia; Maribel Sánchez Maroto, director of News Content at RTVE; Javier García Vila, director of Europa Press; Mikel Iturbe, editor of Heraldo de Aragón; Miguel Ángel Oliver, president of the EFE Agency; Ana Pastor, founder of Newtral; Rosa María Calaf, renowned reporter and international correspondent; and Jaime Abello, general director and co-founder of the Gabo Foundation, among other industry leaders.

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