Mexican Journalist named 2023 World Press Freedom Hero

The International Press Institute (IPI) and IMS (International Media Support) have announced Mexican investigative journalist, Carmen Aristegui as the recipient of the 2023 World From Freedom Hero Award.

The award honours Aristegui’s decades of fearless reporting on corruption in Mexico regardless of the government in power and her unyielding commitment to critical journalism in the face of targeted efforts to silence her.

In one of world’s most dangerous countries for journalism, Aristegui has never wavered from her watchdog reporting – despite numerous attacks, incl smear campaigns, firings, and Pegasus surveillance.

She is an inspiration to journalists globally and especially in Latin America.

— IPI – The Global Network for Independent Media (@globalfreemedia) April 21, 2023

In the announcement, IPI said: “For her vigorous watchdog journalism, Aristegui has been subject to a range of abuses at the hands of the Mexican state and other powerful actors, including smear campaigns and politically motivated firings. She and her family were illegally targeted with Pegasus surveillance beginning in 2015, in one of the first known uses of the powerful spyware against journalists.

“Despite working under threat in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalism, Aristegui has never wavered from her journalistic mission. Her fortitude has gained her widespread respect and inspired a generation as a prominent female investigative reporter in Mexico’s male-dominated media industry.

“In a country where polarized political discourse and misinformation are on the rise, and where a journalist or media outlet is attacked every 13 hours, independent journalism, such as the kind that Aristegui practises and represents, is not only necessary but also a key element of democracy.”

The IPI-IMS World From Freedom Hero award will be presented together with the IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award during a special ceremony on May 25, 2023, in Vienna as part of IPI’s annual  World Congress.

Aristegui has spent nearly three decades breaking major stories on high-level corruption in Mexico, working mainly in radio and television, including CNN en Español. Her work is distinguished by an unflinching willingness to shine a critical light on some of Mexico’s most powerful institutions, despite the risks such reporting entails. Indeed, her journalism has repeatedly been a thorn in the side of those in power – frequently making her the target of reprisals.

Meanwhile, the IPI and the IMS have also announced this year’s shortlist for the Free Media Pioneer award.

Ten trailblazing organisations are nominated for this year’s IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award.

Congratulations to @ARIJNetwork @Article14live @elsurti @kloopnews @KhabarLahariya @projectm_org @netgazeti @sjs_Somalia @zerkalo_io @Myanmar_Now_Eng @globalfreemedia #ifj23 pic.twitter.com/nU4QyZY0AY

— IMS (@IMSforfreemedia) April 21, 2023

These are 10 outstanding organizations on five continents that are blazing trails in defence of the public’s right to independent news.

The award is presented to organizations meeting the demands of the moment through innovative models of journalism, media, or press freedom defence.

This is the first time IPI and IMS are announcing a global shortlist for the Free Media Pioneer award to underscore the scope and diversity of media organizations that are transforming news access and quality, especially in restricted or repressive environments.

The shortlisted organizations are:

Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, Jordan

Article 14, India

El Surtidor, Paraguay

Kloop, Kyrgyzstan

Khabar Lahariya, India

Myanmmar Now, Myaanmar

Project Multatuli, Indonesia

Netgazeti-Batumelebi, Georgia

Somali Journalists Syndicate(SJS), Somalia

Zerkalo, Belarus

One organization from the shortlist will later be named this year’s Free Media Pioneer award recipient.

 

IPI