View a video of the 2008 Internews Media Leadership Awards:

‘Filmanthropist’ Ted Leonsis, Journalist Mariane Pearl Honored at Internews Media Leadership Awards

Vietnamese Environmental Reporter, Kenyan Radio Host and
Ukrainian Media Rights Advocate Also Share Awards at Newseum Ceremony

Washington, D.C.—Businessman, philanthropist and film producer Ted Leonsis and award-winning international journalist Mariane Pearl were honored June 5 at the 2008 Internews Media Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C.

Internews, an international media development nonprofit, presented awards to Leonsis and Pearl at an event at the newly opened Newseum in Washington.

Photo: Imijphoto.com 2008 Internews Media Leadership honorees, from left: Tole Nyatta, Natalia Ligacheva, Mariane Pearl, Manana Aslamazyan (a 2007 honoree), and Hoang Quoc Dzung (More Photos)

Leonsis was honored for engaging global audiences through his socially conscious films, Nanking and Kicking It, as well as his pioneering work to connect people worldwide through Internet technology. Leonsis is Vice Chairman Emeritus of AOL, owner of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League, and Chairman of Clearspring Technologies and Revolution Money.

“When I first heard about what this organization does, I thought, what a perfect organization for the time,” Leonsis said of Internews, adding that, “I want to tap into the power of people wanting to do good. I’m committed to helping people all over the world get their message out.” (Read Ted Leonsis' profile and view his acceptance speech)

Pearl, an international journalist, was honored for her dedication to international reporting and commitment to spreading a global message of hope. Pearl has reported and produced documentaries on culture, science, immigration, and politics. She authored the 2007 book, In Search of Hope: The Global Diaries of Mariane Pearl, about the everyday heroes she met writing her column for Glamour magazine.

Pearl also wrote the book, A Mighty Heart, which was made into a critically acclaimed film, about her husband Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and murder in Pakistan in 2002 while he was reporting for the Wall Street Journal.  

Pearl spoke to the audience about what she termed a “human revolution” and about how “journalism is the best tool to combat fear.”
“Are we capable of not only asking questions of people in power but of also asking questions of ourselves?” she said. (Read Mariane Pearl's profile and view her acceptance speech)

The awards also honored three outstanding media leaders from Kenya, Vietnam, and Ukraine:

The 2008 Internews Media Leadership Awards were made possible by the generous support of the event sponsors, including the Knight Foundation, the Leonsis Foundation, 3WT, the Open Society Institute, The Case Foundation, Google, Kathy Bushkin Calvin, Mark Ein, Irene and Abe Pollin, and Mr. and Mrs. Russ Ramsey.

Photos from the 2008 Internews Media Leadership Awards