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Press ReleaseU.S. Film Team Wins International Prize in Internews’ ‘Every Human Has Rights’ CompetitionBoston-based ‘Border Stories’ Film Crew Honored for Human Rights Reporting in Ceremony that Includes World Leaders
(December 8, 2008) PARIS, France—With world leaders in attendance, a Boston-based film crew was named winner of a top prize of Internews’ prestigious ‘Every Human Has Rights’ Media Awards on Dec. 6 at a celebration in Paris marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights The announcement was made at a ceremony that included the Elders, a group of globally respected leaders seeking new approaches to easing human suffering and giving voice to their struggles. Elders in attendance included such luminaries as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Mary Robinson, former Irish President and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Also present were musician Peter Gabriel and businessman Richard Branson, who together conceived the idea of the Elders, and journalist and author Mariane Pearl, who served on the international jury. When it comes to human rights, Robinson told the gathering, “Journalists are an incredible way of carrying the message.” Carter lauded the “heroes in the news media” for their role in promoting human rights. The American film team of “Border Stories” won a special prize for its mosaic of portrayals that explores the US-Mexico border, the longest boundary between the developed and developing world and a politically and emotionally charged region. The special “public prize” was determined through online voting worldwide. Accepting the award for “Border Stories,” Ben Fundis quipped, “I probably should have brought a suit if I’d known I’d be standing in front of my favorite president . . . so far!” Carter gave him a broad smile and a thumbs-up. On a more serious note, Fundis explained his team’s motivation for producing the series, saying, “We were frustrated by the level of dialog in the mainstream media. We wanted to let people who live and work along the border offer a point of view that is more than sound bites; we wanted to let them tell their own stories.” The “Border Stories” film team includes: Ben Fundis, a graduate of Bard College with a degree in film studies; Clara Long, a journalist whose work has appeared on National Public Radio and the Associated Press; and John Drew, co-founder and former associate editor of “The Citizen,” a magazine based in New York. After the awards ceremony, Fundis reflected, “It was quite a special moment to give a short acceptance speech before President Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Mariane Pearl, Richard Branson, and Peter Gabriel. I can't express how much it means to get a thumbs up and a handshake from President Carter. It was not something we could have expected when we were camped out on Boca Chica beach at the mouth of the Rio Grande talking about the many miles and months to come.“ Internews organized the media awards to inspire coverage of human rights issues around the world. The awards were held in conjunction with the yearlong Every Human Has Rights campaign, which was inspired by the Elders as a way of raising global awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Internews received over 500 entries, with stories focusing on 108 countries. The thirty winning journalists received an all-expenses paid trip to Paris to cover the 60th anniversary events. Among these 30, seven special prizes were announced at the ceremony including the public prize for “Border Stories.” Internews publicized the online voting for the public through social media sites including Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. |
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