The Diplomat
Support for Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion marked the 84th edition of the Madrid Press Association’s (APM) Journalism Awards ceremony yesterday.
The presentation of the awards took place at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, by the president of the APM, Juan Caño, and the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who were accompanied by the Ukrainian ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev.
The ambassador’s presence was motivated by the fact that two of the prize-winners, Luis de Vega and Laura de Chiclana, have been awarded for their work as special envoys to the conflict in Ukraine.
In his speech, Juan Caño said that “everyone can be sure that we will continue to tell what is happening in Ukraine”. He added: “That is the essence of journalism: to ensure that truth triumphs over falsehood, that better knowledge of the world we live in makes us better people and that intelligence prevails over ignorance.
The president of the Madrid Press Association also announced the installation of a monument in honour of journalists who have died in the line of duty, which will be located in front of the façade of the APM headquarters and “will honour the memory of the fifteen professionals who have lost their lives in armed conflicts or who have been victims of ETA since the arrival of democracy in our country”.
For his part, José Luis Martínez-Almeida stressed that the approval of the monument to which Juan Caño had referred was unanimously approved by the City Council groups, as a tribute to journalists “who understood the profession not only as the search for the truth against any power, even when this could lead to death”, he said.
The mayor also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to Ukraine and said: “One of the happiest days I will have as mayor will be when I have to take down the Ukrainian flag from the Cibeles fountain, because that day will mean that Ukraine has won the war”.
The Ukrainian Ambassador thanked the journalists for their work, dedication, integrity and objectivity. It is impossible,” he said, “to imagine a modern society deprived of information, communication networks and impartial analysis of events by journalists. You carry on the best tradition of world journalism and tell the truth about the world’s most important events”.
Serhii Pohoreltsev also stressed that “the work of journalists, especially during Russia’s war against Ukraine, is essential for informing and influencing the world public”. He added: “Through your eyes, society knows the horror of what is happening in Ukraine. Your evidence is crucial in the fight against Russian propaganda.
Luis de Vega Hernández, journalist and photojournalist for El País, received the APM award for best journalistic work during 2022 for his “tireless coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the front line and with a peculiar style that tries to humanise the horror of war by reflecting the social reality of the victims”.
Laura de Chiclana was awarded the APM Young Journalist of the Year Award 2022, which recognises the work of the professional under 30 years of age who has distinguished herself the most during the last year. The reporter has covered the war in Ukraine for eight months for Telecinco and Cuatro. According to the jury, “despite her youth, she understands journalism as a fundamental service to denounce the atrocity of war and contribute to its end. He is an example of a young, brave and vocational freelance journalist”.
José Antonio Martínez Soler, an active journalist for the past 54 years, was also awarded the APM Prize of Honour. The jury defined him as a “tireless, risk-taking, committed and courageous professional, not only in the practice of journalism, but also as an entrepreneur and founder of various publications”, such as 20 Minutos, El Sol, La Gaceta de los Negocios and Doblón, among others.
The APM also recognised, for yet another year, specialised journalism related to Madrid. On this occasion, two names shared the award: Nieves Herrero and Félix Madero. The jury considered that “they are two leading figures in the current affairs of our Community, which they transmit from Onda Madrid to all the people of Madrid, placing special emphasis on the issues closest to them as told by their protagonists”.
They were precisely the ones in charge of thanking the award and speaking on behalf of the award winners.
The ceremony closed with a performance by the Ukrainian children’s choir Peredzvin, directed by Liliia Tkachuk and made up of some twenty children between the ages of five and fifteen, who performed three songs: Peace in Ukraine, Shedryk and Ukraine Live”.
