President Luis Abinader delivered the Unesco Freedom of Press Award to 82-year old Eulalio Almonte Rubiera (Lalo) during the space of his weekly La Semanal press conference. Almonte Rubiera worked for La Nacion, Listin Diario, Noti Tiempo, El Caribe and Noticiario Cristal in his extended career as a journalist in the Dominican Republic and the United States.
The award is part of the UNESCO mandate for the World Freedom of the Press Week that takes place around the world from 3 to 10 May 2024. It comes with a medal, plaque and US$25,000 cash prize. The director of the Regional Office for the Unesco, based in Havana, Cuba, Anne Lemaistre, spoke of the importance of the award.
Speaking at the event, Dominican ambassador to the Unesco, Andres Mateo highlighted the Dominican Republic is a global model for freedom of the press today. The award juror worked under the Ministry of Culture and the Unesco Dominican Commission.
Almonte Rubiera lived for 14 years in exile in the United States with the protection of the US government, fearing for his life during the early administrations of the late President Joaquin Balaguer.
During the event, he told the story about how he was hired when Rafael Herrera discovered his vocation and writing skills and he began working for the Listin Diario.
Previous winners of the award are:
Jose Bujosa Mieses, 2021
Erciclio Veloz Burgos, 2022
Ramon Emilio Colombo 2023
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Unesco
La Semanal 6 May 2024
7 May 2024