LASA Media Award
About the award
The LASA Media Award is made at every LASA Congress to recognize long-term journalistic contributions to analysis and public debate about Latin America in the United States and in Latin America, as well as breakthrough journalism. Nominations are invited from LASA members and from journalists.
Call for nominations
The Latin American Studies Association is pleased to announce its competition for the 2025 LASA Media Award for outstanding media coverage of Latin America. LASA members can nominate journalists from both print and electronic media. The committee will carefully review each nominee’s work and select an award recipient. LASA may invite the awardee to submit materials for possible publication in the LASA Forum.
The award will be announced at the LASA2025 Welcome Ceremony, and the awardee will be publicly honored. In addition, he/she will present his/her journalistic career in a special panel during the Congress.
To make a nomination, please submit one copy of the journalist’s electronic portfolio, complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address by October 4, 2024.
Members of the 2025 Committee
Cecilia García Huidobro (chair)
Universidad Diego Portales
Jennifer Ávila
Contracorriente
Patricia Nieto
Universidad de Antioquia
Paola Ugaz
Periodista Independiente
Award history
2024
AWARDEE: Paola Margot Ugaz Cruz, ABC de España y Nativa TV de Perú
2023
AWARDEE: José Jasán Nieves, elToque and Colectivo +Voces
2022
AWARDEE: Mariana Carbajal, Página 12, Argentina
HONORABLE MENTION: Ismael Moreno Coto, Radio Progreso, Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC), Honduras
2021
AWARDEES: José Luis Sanz, Washington correspondent, El Faro and Luz Mely Reyes, director and co-founder of the digital media Efecto Cocuyo
HONORABLE MENTION: María Teresa Ronderos, co-founder and director of Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP)
2020
AWARDEE: Jennifer Ávila, Journalist and Co-founder of the digital media Contra Corriente
2019
AWARDEE: Patricia Nieto Nieto, Journalist and Colombian chronicler. Professor of social communication and journalism at the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín
HONORABLE MENTION: Nelly Luna Amancio, General Editor and Co-founder of OjoPúblico
2018
AWARDEE: Amalia Pando, Radio Lider, Bolivia
HONORABLE MENTION: Alejandra Xanic, investigative journalist, Mexico
HONORABLE MENTION: Yoani Sanchez, 14ymedio, Cuba
2017
AWARDEE: Mariano Castillo, The Associated Press, USA
2016
AWARDEE: Juan Luis Font, ContraPoder, Guatemala
2015
AWARDEE: Mauricio Weibel, Unión Sudamericana de Corresponsales
HONORABLE MENTION: Roque Planas, Huffington Post
2014
AWARDEE: Raúl Peñaranda, Página Siete (Bolivia)
2013
AWARDEE: Marcela Turati, De a Pie
2012
AWARDEE: José Vales, El Universal de México
2010
AWARDEE: Carlos Dada, El Faro, El Salvador
2009
AWARDEE: Mario Osava, IPS correspondent, Brazil
2007
AWARDEE: Hollman Morris, Colombia
2006
AWARDEE: Maria Ester Gilio
2004
AWARDEE: Julio Scherer, journalist, Mexico
2003
AWARDEE: Eduardo Anguita, freelance journalist, Argentina
HONORABLE MENTION: Juan Pablo Cárdenas Squella
2001
AWARDEE: Guillermo González Uribe, Número, Colombia
2000
AWARDEE: Patricia Verdugo Aguirre, CONAMA, Chile and Diario 16, Spain
1998
AWARDEE: Gustavo Gorriti (Sendero Luminoso and Carretas)
1997
AWARDEE: Julio Scherer (Proceso)
1995
AWARDEES:
Among journalists working with U.S.-based news organizations:
David Welna (National Public Radio)
Among journalists affiliated with Latin America-based entities:
Horacio Verbitsky (Página 12), Buenos Aires, Argentina
1994
AWARDEES:
Among journalists working with U.S.-based news organizations:
Kathy Ellison (Miami Herald), WINNER
Dudley Althaus (Houston Chronicle), (HONORABLE MENTION)
Among journalists affiliated with Latin America-based entities:
Caretas, Lima Peru (award given to an entire publication), Enrique Zileri, editor.
1992
AWARDEE: Alma Guillermoprieto (The New Yorker)
SPECIAL CITATION: Alan Riding (Former Bureau Chief, The New York Times in Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro
1991
AWARDEE: John Dinges, National Public Radio
1989
AWARDEE: Pamela Constable, The Boston Globe
1988
AWARDEE: Charles A. Krause, McNeil/Leher News Hour
1986
AWARDEE: Bill Buzenberg, National Public Radio
1985
AWARDEES:
Laurie Becklund, The Los Angeles Times
Craig Pyes, Albuquerque Journal
1983
AWARDEE: Raymond Bonner, The New York Times