For his 45-year career in journalism, and his contributions to the defense of democracy and human rights, journalist Osvaldo Santana was awarded the National Journalism Award that is sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Dominican Association of Journalists (CDP).
At present, Santana is the executive editor at the El Caribe newspaper. In the past he has worked at the Listin Diario, CDN TV news channel, and at the El Siglo and Ultima Hora newspapers that are no longer in circulation. He is a founder of El Nuevo Diario and was editor in chief at the Rumbo magazine, also out of circulation.
President Danilo Medina presented the award to Santana at the Presidential Palace yesterday. Also present were Vice President Margarita Cedeño and Santana’s wife, Ana Reyes. Santana remarked upon receiving the award:
“This type of recognition makes one assume our citizen duties with a greater sense of responsibility,” said the veteran journalist. He pointed out the media limitations to access to government information and to the President himself. But he expressed optimism that “he [the President] will fill that deficit in due course.”
He also advocated for removing penalties to crimes derived from freedom of speech. He requested that the Presidency draft a bill to remove threats to freedom of speech contained in the Penal Code and Law 61-32.
Santana was chosen by a jury made up by representatives of the Dominican Association of Journalists (CDP), the Ministry of Education, the Communications School at the UASD university, the Dominican Society of Daily Newspapers, the Dominican Association of Radio Broadcasters (Adora) and two journalists chosen from a group of 10.
6 December 2017
