Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism Winners 2009
Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism
The Pratt Prize for Environmental Journalism, funded by the Pratt Foundation is awarded annually to cutting-edge environmental reporting at the national, local, and community levels. The Prize is given for four categories of journalism and for the first time a Lifetime Achievement Award was given. This year's prizes were awarded at a ceremony held in Tel Aviv on March 31. The 2009 winners are:
1. Community and Independent Journalism
The winner in the Community and Independent Media Journalism category is Itamar Cohen for his blog included in the social network The Marker Café .
The Judges' Explanation; Itamar Cohen is a long-standing and determined environmental activist who began writing his social network internet blog "The Marker Café" many years ago. Itamar's writing is characterized by its intensity and passion for the current issues surrounding the environment and is undeniably of professional quality. His work demonstrates a deep knowledge of facts and details of his field and the legal background.
2. Local Journalism
The winner in the Local Journalism category is Revital Choval.
Judges' Explanation; Revital's writing is profound and demonstrates great depth regarding current environmental matters. Her writing paints a complete picture for the reader while demonstrating great control and accuracy of its substance. Her writing has contributed greatly to raising awareness to the many issues covered in the public sphere today.
3. National Print Journalism
The winner in the National Print Journalism category is Amir Ben-David from Yediot Ahronot.
The Judges’ Reasoning; One of the toughest tests for any journalist is to "sell" his own work to the group in which he works. Amir's work demonstrates the great significance that he gives to issues of environmental quality and he has succeeded in bringing these subjects to the heart of Yediot Ahronot (the largest national newspaper in Israel).
4. Broadcast Journalism
The winner in the Broadcast Journalism category is Uri Rosenooks. Uri's film "State of Garbage" is persuasive and thought provoking. The film and its subject remains with you long after viewing and causes you to look at the subject in a new way.
5. Lifetime Achievement Award
A Lifetime Achievement award was given to Azriah Alon.
Azaria Alon was born on November 15, 1918 in Wollodarsk, Ukraine and has lived in Israel since 1925. Since 1938, Azaria has been a member of Kibbutz Beit Hashita. He has been an agricultural worker, a youth movement leader, an educator and teacher of biology. In 1951, he became one of the founders of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), which is now a leading power in Environmental campaigns in Israel. He took a major part in the campaign to save the wild flowers of Israel (since 1964- ) He has also been active in creating the Governmental Nature Reserves Authority (a member of its board from 1964-1976); mapping the nature reserves and national parks of Israel (1951-1965); numerous campaigns to save the wild life and environment; General Secretary of SPNI from 1969-1977; taking a major part in education, especially in creating the network of Field Study Centers; the editor of SPNI publications; member of Life & Environment; taking part in the Stockholm Convention in 1972 and IUCN conferences from 1963-1990.
