The results of the José Martí and Juan Gualberto Gómez National Journalism Awards were announced prior to the Cuban Press Day celebrations organized every year by the Union of Cuban Journalists (UPEC), with the purpose of recognizing and highlighting the work of those engaged in journalism in our country.

The José Martí National Journalism Award for Life's Work is the highest individual recognition granted by UPEC to its affiliates for having worked in the Cuban press media, for a contribution of exceptional social transcendence, to the people's information, culture and national conscience and as an expression of the ethical heritage of Cuban revolutionary journalism.

On this occasion, the jury presided by journalist and 2008 José Martí National Journalism Award winner Juana Carrasco and integrated by other prestigious Cuban press specialists such as Irma Cáceres, José Alejandro Rodríguez Martínez, Enrique Ojito, Maribel Acosta Damas, Ana Teresa Badía, Ivonne Albelo, Julio Acanda García, Abel Falcón Curí, Sabdiel Batista, Beatriz Pérez Alonso, Adán Iglesias Toledo, Ernesto Niebla Chalita, Marcelino Vázquez, Ismael Francisco González and Miguel Ernesto Gómez Masjuán, who awarded the José Martí National Journalism Prize for Life's Work to Rosa Miriam Elizalde Zorrilla; journalist and researcher, First Vice-President of the Union of Journalists of Cuba, assistant professor at the University of Havana and the International Institute of Journalism "José Martí".

According to Ricardo Ronquillo Bello, president of UPEC, "During her time in different media, as a columnist and editor, she left a mark of authority and professional prestige, deep interest in defending and updating the tradition of revolutionary journalism, unlimited dedication to her responsibilities, inquiring spirit and creative capacity... She was also a pioneer in the incursion of Cuban journalism in the digital field. She was among those who projected the emergence of the Internet media that have gained greater authority and public relevance in Cuba, including 13 years as editor of the Cubadebate web portal."

Ronquillo also acknowledged that, from the first vice presidency of Upec, Rosa Miriam "has set trends with the digital innovation project Dominio Cuba and the development of the computerization project in the organization, with highly commendable results in just two years, especially in 2020, with challenges saved to prevent Covid-19 from isolating the media system from its professional organization."

The winners of the Juan Gualberto Gómez National Journalism Award in its 2021 edition were also announced on the occasion.

In this regard, after the jury composed of prominent communication exponents analyzed the varied proposals representing various territories of the country, the Jury awarded the Juan Gualberto Gómez Award for Written Press to José Luis Estrada Betancourt, from the Juventud Rebelde newspaper, for the development of a colossal work of reaffirmation of the national identity and its spiritual values with an attractive, very human and neat approach -based on a very personal vision-, of the various cultural manifestations. For its solid and very suggestive handling of the most varied journalistic genres.

The jury also awarded mentions for a work of excellence, originality, sharpness and formal beauty to Dailene Sucel Dovale, from Editora Abril; and to Osviel Castro Medel, Juventud Rebelde's correspondent in Granma province, for his sharpness in the exercise of opinion on burning problems of society and his original treatment of our history.

In the category of Photojournalism and Graphic Journalism, the jury composed of Marcelino Vázquez Hernández, Ismael Francisco González, Ernesto Niebla Chalita and Adán Iglesias Toledo, unanimously decided to award the Juan Gualberto Gómez Prize for the work of the year, in the category of Photojournalism, to Ariel Ley Royero, of the Cuban News Agency, for offering a journalistic work of technical and informative quality, with an appropriate use of lighting and framing, which enriches the photographs in an extraordinary way, together with the achievement of getting the message across beautifully without neglecting in any way its role of informing and transmitting the news.

In the category of Graphic Journalism, the Jury awarded the Prize to cartoonist Aritidez Hernández Guerrero (Ares), for his high quality and the high repercussion of his work at national and international level. As elements, the Jury also took into account that in the year 2020, Ares deserved the National Award of the Centro Promotor del Humor and the Covid Special A Covid in the 26 de Julio National Journalism Contest.

In the Hypermedia Journalism category, the jury analyzed 17 proposals presented in this category and decided to award the prize to Istvan Ojeda Bello, from Periódico 26, from Las Tunas, for the appreciable and correct use of hypermedia elements, created by himself, which enriched his journalistic discourse. It highlights the ability to analyze different current issues of high impact on the population, with a precise language and the use of different tools that allowed him to incorporate to his contents from infographics to interactive maps.

The jury also decided to award a Special Mention to Oscar Figueredo Reinaldo, from Cubadebate, for offering during 2020 contents with a correct command of hypermedia language, as well as the conception of a team work that has allowed his media outlet to produce the series Cuba en Datos and others of great impact.

In the Radio category, the jury made up of Abel Falcón Curí, Silvia Ivonne Albelo and Ana Teresa Badía, after analyzing the work of 17 candidates, unanimously decided to award the Juan Gualberto Gómez Prize to Elsa Ramos, from the Provincial Radio Sancti Spíritus, highlighting in her work the excellent handling of the resources of radio discourse, where it highlights a work with a diversity of topics ranging from economic to social issues with full intentionality, and the precision used in the construction of the news, with a clear and direct language to analyze issues of repercussion in the province and explain complex issues related to the new economic strategy of the country.

In addition, the Jury, taking into account the quality of the works received, decided to award two mentions. One to Dalia Reyes, from the CMHW radio station in Villa Clara, for the appropriate use of sound resources, with intelligent management of priorities in the construction of the news, and for managing to move people with her chronicles and life stories, in addition to the use of techniques of a genre little explored today in radio, the documentary, which facilitated the search for and delivery of quality communicative products.

The other mention in this category went to Lisandra Gómez, from Radio Sancti Spíritus, also for the way in which she addresses expressions of violence that are manifested today at the national level, both within couples, families and public spaces, with wise handling of sound resources to offer an attractive product that moves to reflections.

Meanwhile, in the Television category, the jury of the Juan Gualberto Gómez Award for the work of the year 2020, after studying 15 proposals submitted, taking into account the exceptional nature of the moments experienced in 2020, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ideological challenges faced by Cuban journalism professionals, decided to award the Juan Gualberto Gómez Award for the work of the year to Lázaro Manuel Alonso, of the Cuban Television Information System, for his ability to address with honesty and exceptional brilliance transcendental events of the country, for his dedication and journalistic passion, evidenced in a voluminous work this year; for touching the popular sensibility in unprecedented situations faced by Cuban society, honoring journalism's sense of public service.

The Jury also decided to award two special mentions. One of them went to Diana Rosa Schlachter, from the Sistema Informativo de la Televisión Cubana, for the scientific depth of her work, accompanied by an audiovisual invoice that takes advantage of the communicative resources of contemporaneity, through the segment Observatorio Científico (Scientific Observatory).

And the other Mention went to Ismary Barcias, from Perlavisión, for her sharpness, diversity and originality in addressing the social and economic complexities of her environment with a dimension of general interest.

The José Martí and Juan Gualberto Gómez National Journalism Awards recognize the work and dedication of the professionals of the word in their great challenge of communicating and being always in tune with the new times of life.

(Taken from Cubarte)

English version Hdez Oropesa