Mexican Freelancer To Receive 2010 Martin Adler Prize

The Rory Peck Trust has announced that Mexican freelancer Arturo Perez, who covers the bloody drugs war in Mexico's most violent city of Ciudad Juarez, will be the recipient of the 2010 Martin Adler Prize.
Now in its fourth year, the Prize honours a freelancer who has played an exceptional role in the telling of a significant news story. Arturo will collect the prize at the Rory Peck Awards 2010 ceremony on Wednesday November 17 at London's BFI Southbank.
Arturo Perez took the bold decision to base himself in Ciudad Juarez in 2008 as the wave of violence, sparked by drugs wars, started to engulf the city. His work has highlighted how the drugs war is claiming more and more victims not involved with the trade - children, women and university students.
In 2009, some 2,750 people were killed and it is estimated that by the end of 2010, the body count will reach 3,000.
Manuel Carrillo, Senior Producer at Reuters Television in Mexico, who nominated Arturo for the Prize, said: "Arturo has captured with his camera shocking images which document the massacres, attacks, disappearances and car bombs which have left thousands of victims in a city which has become the battle ground for criminal gangs.
"Despite threats and intimidation from these gangs and even from the security forces, Arturo has remained strong and unfailing in his coverage - mindful of the fact that in Mexico, other journalists have been killed just for fulfilling their duty to keep society informed."
Tira Shubart, Trustee of the Rory Peck Trust, said: "For the past five years, Mexico has been in the top three most dangerous countries in the world for journalists - a little known fact until recently. So, we are pleased to honour Arturo Perez who, every day, is committed to gathering news under the most difficult and threatening of circumstances."
Since 2006, at least 30 journalists and media workers have been killed in Mexico, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Dozens more have been attacked, kidnapped or forced into exile, making it one of the world's most dangerous countries for the media.
The Rory Peck Awards 2010 take place on Wednesday November 17 at London's BFI Southbank. This year's event will be hosted by Julie Etchingham of ITV News and Rageb Omaar of Al Jazeera English. Tickets to the event can be booked at: www.rorypecktrust.org
The Martin Adler Prize honours a freelancer who has told, or played a vital part in telling a significant news story - it is named after the award-winning freelancer journalist, photographer and filmmaker who was murdered in Somalia in 2006. The Prize is intended to raise awareness of the value of the recipient's work and help them to progress their career. The recipient may be a freelance cameraman or camerawoman, or the person who they have depended upon in the field; for example, a fixer, driver or local journalist.
(KMcA)