Category: General
Created on Monday, 16 July 2012 14:02
Published Date
Written by GNA
Hits: 294
Accra, July 14, GNA - In a move to support press freedom around the world, Chevron Corporation will serve as West Coast Event Chair for the International Women’s Media (IWMF) Foundation’s 2012 Courage in Journalism Awards.
“At Chevron, we invest in strengthening our communities because business succeeds when people prosper. A free and active media is essential for success. Empowering women journalists is part of that equation”, Mr Dave Samson, General Manager of Public Affairs for Chevron Corporation has said.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra from Washington on Saturday, Mr Samson said, “the IWMF believes that no media is truly free unless women have an equal voice."
Chevron agrees that "by supporting women journalists, the transparency that is necessary for the success of our stakeholders – investors, customers, host governments, local communities and our employees – will flourish”.
Chevron, a long-time contributor to the IWMF’s work supporting women journalists, returned to play a key role in recognizing the outstanding bravery of women journalists and reiterating their commitment to freedom of expression by providing invaluable support for the work of the IWMF, the release indicated.
The 2012 Courage Awards would be presented in Los Angeles on October 29 and hosted by Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour magazine.
This year’s Courage Award winners are Reeyot Alemu of Ethiopia, currently imprisoned on charges of terrorism after writing critiques of her country’s government; Asmaa al-Ghoul of Palestine, a blogger and freelance writer who has received death threats for her commentary on the culture and politics of Gaza; Khadija Ismayilova of Azerbaijan, who was blackmailed and threatened after her investigation into charges of malfeasance against members of the Azerbaijani president’s family and Zubeida Mustafa of Pakistan, who would receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Chevron’s participation in the Courage event is a testament to their dedication to the IWMF’s mission and makes our work possible,” said IWMF Board Co-Chair Katty Kay.
The IWMF Courage in Journalism Awards honour women journalists who have shown extraordinary strength of character and integrity while reporting the news under extreme danger and hardship while the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a woman journalist whose determination has paved the way for women in the news media.
