NEWS
The Independent Managing Editor Wins International Press Freedom Award
By AG
September 22, 2005
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) picked Alagi Yorro Jallow of The Independent Newspaper, The Gambia, together with a prominent Ukrainian journalist as this year's International Press Freedom Awards winners. The two are selected among several outstanding journalists around the world who demonstrated great courage and perseverance in the face of persecution to defend Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
Other nominees for the 2005 Awards included: Jesus Abad Colorado - Colombia, Taysir Alluni - Spain, Terry Gould - Canada, Journaliste en Danger - Democratic Republic of Congo, Wilf Mbanga - Zimbabwe, Hayyan Nayouf - Syria, and Ruslan Yarmoliak - Ukraine.
The Toronto, Canada based organization in a press release stated that the two journalists would be honored on November 1st, at the 8th Annual International Press Freedom Awards gala for outstanding contribution to freedom of expression to be held in Toronto.
Below is the statement released by the CJFE organization on the background of the two winners:
ALAGI YORRO JALLOW - GAMBIA
As the environment for press freedom in the Gambia has deteriorated over the past few years, Alagi Yorro Jallow has been a passionate advocate for the human rights. He has worked as a journalist at several news outlets in Gambia since 1987, most recently as the Managing Editor of The Independent. He has also worked as a correspondent for the BBC and the International Press Institute and a consultant to the London-based free expression organization Article 19.
For four years, he served as the Vice-chairman of the Gambia Press Union where he was part of a successful campaign to disband a government controlled media commission with extensive powers to punish journalists. He is also working to end the impunity enjoyed by the murderers of fellow journalist Deyda Hydara, whose killing in December 2004 was thought to be politically motivated. Though he is temporarily in the US, he has continued his advocacy work by speaking at universities and conferences on the worsening environment for freedom of expression in his homeland. His work as a journalist and human rights advocate has not been without opposition. In April 2004, a group of armed men entered the office of The Independent in the early morning and set it ablaze with the staff still inside. Several staff were wounded and the office and printing equipment owned by the paper was destroyed causing huge financial losses. Other acts of intimidation have included death threats, detentions and physical assaults against him and his staff. The Committee to Protect Journalists recently noted the decline in press freedom in Gambia 2004 "a year marked by arson attacks, threats, and repressive legislation aimed at the independent media."
MYKOLA VERESEN - UKRAINE
In November 2004, the Orange Revolution began in Ukraine as a series of political protests and events in response to charges of election fraud in the Nov. 21 Run-off election. Playing a crucial role in the revolution was independent TV channel 5, a small cable station which was the sole media outlet to give unbiased coverage to the challenger, Viktor Yushchenko. The station was closely watched by international monitors as a key indicator of the fairness of the elections. Mykola Veresen was the anchor and became, for many, the voice and face of the Orange Revolution.
Mykola Veresen was at this time a veteran and respected journalist. He was also the first Ukrainian journalist to work for a foreign news service, the BBC reporting for them from 1986-1996. He then became a star as host of the social affairs program called "Taboo" which tackled themes that had previously been taboo such as drug problems, sex, and police corruption. Mr. Veresen is also known as one of the founders of Charter 4, a Kyiv-based non-profit group with the goal of engaging the media in monitoring and managing projects that support a civil society in Ukraine.
The Orange Revolution was successful and for the most part peaceful, but it is very possible that if it had not been Veresen's career could have ended, and he would have faced possible persecution or imprisonment. The Ukraine has been a dangerous country in which be a journalist in recent years. In 2004, 20 journalists were arrested and more than 30 were physically attacked. In the past ten years, four journalists have been murdered in the Ukraine.