Global Journalism Review

Westminster's best print journalist

Michael White, political editor of the Guardian, has been voted best print journalist by MPs and peers, in the House Magazine/BBC Parliamentary Awards. Sir Patrick Cormack, MP, editor of House Magazine, said: "He is one of the most respected and able commentators I have known in my 33 years in the house."

Golden Pen of Freedom

The 2003 Golden Pen of Freedom has been awarded to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, in recognition of "its courageous resistance to the repression of the media by President Aleksandr Lukashenko."

Gellhorn Award for Robert Fisk

Robert Fisk, of the Independent (London - daily and Sunday), has won the Martha Gellhorn Award for his journalism in general and especially for his despatches from Iraq.

The citation says: "The award is given every year to a journalist whose work has penetrated the established version of events and told an unpalatable truth, validated by powerful facts, that exposes establishment propaganda, or 'official drivel', as Martha Gellhorn called it. Robert Fisk's work fits this description perfectly."

Pulitzer Prize winners 2003

A list of media worthies, of course, but the absence of any really outstanding award among the latest Pulitzers was noted by those who recalled some of the highlights of the past (writes Robert Devon, Washington media correspondent). "Unexciting," was the dry comment of an old hand at the Washington Post, though that newspaper was included among the winners.

The informal consensus at a Press Club lunch was that an opportunity to celebrate some outstanding achievement in American journalism had been missed. One critic suggested standards had been affected by the wish of the Pulitzer Board members to recognise good local reporting, as in the award to the Eagle-Tribune, Massachusetts, for its "well-crafted stories" on the accidental drowning of four boys. This comment was described by others as professional snobbery.

The award for International Reporting had been expected by some to reflect the excellent work done in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. This should not, however, detract from the excellent work of Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan, Washington Post, who received the award for their "exposure of horrific conditions in Mexico's criminal justice system."

The winning newspaper in the Public Service category was the Boston Globe, "for its courageous, comprehensive coverage of sexual abuse by priests, an effort that pierced secrecy, stirred local, national and international reaction, and produced changes in the Roman Catholic Church."

Breaking-news Reporting: Staff of the Eagle-Tribune, Lawrence, Mass., "for its detailed, well-crafted stories on the accidental drowning of four boys in the Merrimack River."

Investigative Reporting: Clifford J. Levy, New York Times, "for his vivid, brilliantly-written series, Broken Homes, that exposed the abuse of mentally-ill adults in state-regulated homes."

Explanatory Reporting: Staff of Wall Street Journal, "for its clear, concise and comprehensive stories that illuminated the roots, significance and impact of corporate scandals in America."

Beat Reporting: Diana K. Sugg, Baltimore Sun, "for her absorbing, often poignant stories that illuminated complex medical issues through the lives of people."

National Reporting: Alan Miller and Kevin Sack, Los Angeles Times, "for their revelatory and moving examination of a military aircraft, nicknamed The Widow Maker, that was linked to the deaths of 45 pilots."

International Reporting: Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan, Washington Post, "for their exposure of horrific conditions in Mexico's criminal justice system and how they affect the daily life of people."

Feature Writing: Sonia Nazario, Los Angeles Times, "for Enrique's Journey, her touching, exhaustively reported story of a Honduran boy's perilous search for his mother who had migrated to the United States."

Commentary: Colbert I. King, Washington Post, "for his against-the-grain columns that speak to people in power wsith ferocity and wisdom."

Criticism: Stephen Hunter, Washington Post, "for his authoritative film criticism that is both intellectually rewarding and a pleasure to read."

Editorial Writing: Cornelia Grumman, Chicago Tribune, "for her powerful, freshly challenging editorials against the death penalty."

Editorial Cartooning: David Horsey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "for his perceptive cartoons executed with a distinctive style and sense of humour."

Breaking News Photography: Staff of Rocky Mountain News, " for its powerful, imaginative coverage of Colorado's raging forest fires."

Feature Photography: Don Bartletti, Los Angeles Times, "for his memorable portrayal of how undocumented Central American youths, often facing deadly danger, travel north to the United States."

International Editor of the Year

Iden Wetherell, editor of the weekly Zimbabwe Independent, has been named 2002 World Press Review International Editor of the Year. He is the 33rd recipient of the award since it was established in 1975. WPR presents the award to an editor or editors outside the United States "in recognition of enterprise, courage, and leadership in advancing the freedom and responsibility of the press, enhancing human rights, and fostering excellence in journalism."

Distinction for Guardian writers

Writers on the Guardian have won awards on several fronts. The James Cameron award went to Chris McGreal for his reporting from Africa over the past 10 years. Luke Harding, South Asia correspondent won the Foreign Affairs Story of the Year award for three articles from Afghanistan. Oliver Burkeman, based in New York, is the Foreign Press Association's Young Journalist of the Year. Suzanne Goldenberg, based in Washington, after reporting from Israel, shared the Journalist of the Year award with John Kampfner of the BBC.

Katharine Viner, editor of the Guardian's Weekend magazine, was named Magazine Editor of the Year for the second year running by the British Society of Magazine Editors. Patrick Collinson, the paper's personal finance editor, was awarded first prize in the annual Medical Journalism Awards, for his coverage of financing health care. The best-designed supplement award in the European Newspaper Awards went to Big Brother, the Guardian's series about surveillance and privacy.

European Online Journalism Awards

British and Spanish journalists won most of the prizes in the fourth annual European Online Journalism Awards, with entries from 24 countries. BBC News Online received eight of the 17 awards, and the BBC's science editor was named Internet Journalist of the Year. The Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, took the award for the Best News Design and Navigation with its World Cup site, and its sports section, Elmundodeporte.com, was the Best Sports Site.

An online service for UK regional journalists, Hold the Front Page (Northcliffe Newspapers), was the Best Overall Journalism Service. The competition was judged by 122 journalists and digital specialists from all over Europe.

Best of web in south-east Europe

Inter-American award for Mexican journalist

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