Internet portal A1+ awarded Fritt Ord Press Prize
The Fritt Ord Foundation (Oslo) and the ZEIT Foundation (Hamburg) are awarding six press prizes in 2011. Prizes totaling EUR 70 000 are being awarded to four journalists, one newspaper and one news portal. The winners of the prizes for journalists are Natalja Ivanishina, Zamin Haji, Maryna Koktysch and Natalja Ligachova from Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine, respectively. The weekly newspaper Chernovik from Russia and the Internet portal A1+ from Armenia have won the media prizes.
The press prizes are awarded in an effort to strengthen the independent role of journalists and the media, despite reprisals and financial difficulties, and to recognise the laureates' determination not to be scared off by censorship and to resist self-censorship.
The Press Prizes for 2011 will be handed out at the Norwegian Nobel Institute on Wednesday, 15 June 2011.
Prize laureates in 2011:
Armenia
The news portal A1+ covers the activities of the opposition, the government's work and parliamentary events. The journalists devote a great deal of attention to social problems, the situation in the regions and civilian organisations. A1+ delivers independent assessments and commentaries, and their direct broadcasts on the Internet are relevant and nuanced. The prize is EUR 10 000. The news portal was nominated by Human Rights House, Oslo, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Website: www.a1plus.am
Russia
The weekly newspaper Chernovik from Machatschkala in the Republic of Dagestan in North Caucasus writes, among other things, about special assignments handled by the militia and the security forces, criticising their methods and examining questionable methods used to fight the war on terror. The editorial board also writes critically and constructively about the authorities' commercial transactions. The newspaper has repeatedly been accused and received threats of closure due to alleged extremism and protest. The prize is EUR 20 000. The weekly newspaper was nominated by the Norwegian Union of Journalists, Norwegian PEN, Human Rights House, Oslo, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Website: www.chernovik.net
The journalist Natalya Ivanishina works at the newspaper Ust-Ilimskaya Pravda in the Siberian city of Ust-Ilimsk in Irkutsk. She mainly covers news from the judicial system and the courts. She undertakes independent journalistic investigations of court cases and legal proceedings. Ivanishina writes about individuals who are embroiled in legal red tape and covers stubborn cases of criminal persecution and corruption in the judicial system and among the authorities. The prize is EUR 10 000. She was nominated by Albina Bezzubenko, attorney-at-law.
Azerbaijan
The journalist Zamin Haji writes for the newspapers Yeni Müsavat and Azadliq, among others. Haji makes fearless efforts to promote freedom of expression and democratisation. His articles, analyses and shrewd columns deal with misruling, the abuse of power and corruption cases. He is considered one of the country's best investigative journalists, and is famous for his ironic, somewhat sarcastic style. He has been subjected to countless sanctions and personal assaults. The prize is EUR 10 000. He was nominated by Shahvalad Chobanoglu, Baku, Human Rights House, Oslo, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
Belarus
The journalist Maryna Koktysch writes for the newspaper Narodnaja Volja in Minsk, where she is deputy editor-in-chief. Koktysch covered all the main highlights of the presidential election in December 2010. With alacrity, she criticised the undermining of democratic and legal principles. Her strength lies in conducting interviews. She carries on conversations about social policy and personal topics with everyone from critics of the regime to government representatives. Despite massive pressure, she refuses to be silenced. The prize is EUR 10 000. She was nominated by the German embassy in Minsk.
Ukraine
The journalist Natalja Ligachova works for the Internet newspaper Telekritika in Kiev. Telekritika is a forum for discussions about freedom of the press, professional standards, press ethics, human rights and journalistic solidarity. Ligachova observes and analyses media trends, and she writes independently and in a well-balanced manner about the Ukrainian media landscape. By virtue of its role as gatekeeper, Telekritika is an important voice in Ukraine. The prize is EUR 10 000. She was nominated by Markus Löning of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin. Website: www.telekritika.ua
The independent jury that has made the decisions consists of Falk Bomsdorf (Berlin), Jo Groebel (Berlin), Gro Holm (Oslo), Stefanie Schiffer (Berlin), Theo Sommer (Hamburg), Michael Thumann (Istanbul), Reinhard Veser (Frankfurt am Main) and Vibeke Sperling (Copenhagen).
