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International Crisis Group President and CEO Comfort Ero released a statement celebrating the organization's partnership with the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award for war correspondents in a May 16, 2022 news release.
“I’m thrilled that Crisis Group is a partner of the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award,” Ero said. “I have immense respect for the work of journalists in conflict zones, who have to navigate the dangerous front lines of conflicts and often battle disinformation.
"Video documentaries can be a powerful tool in shedding light on overlooked conflicts or complex situations as they bring a unique human perspective and can eventually contribute to helping solve them," he added.
Journalists reporting on conflicts and post-conflict situations awarded.
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Journalists working in modern conflict zones often face severe, and even lethal dangers, in their efforts to provide the public with information. Occasionally, they pay for it with their lives. Less than halfway through 2022, 17 journalists had died in the line of duty, with many of the casualties coming from Ukraine, amid its war with Russia.
In the release, the Crisis Group acknowledged the importance that a free press holds in raising awareness about deadly conflicts, including those often neglected or forgotten by Western media in locales, such as Yemen, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Journalists in these areas also study and expose the causes of conflicts and the motives of the combatants, often providing a way for diplomats and other officials to work toward ending wars and building peace. This closely aligns with the Crisis Group's mission of conflict prevention.
The Bayeux Award for war correspondents is a respected international accolade that recognizes outstanding reporting on conflicts and post-conflict situations, as well as their impact on civilians. The award also recognizes journalism that defends freedom and democracy. There are 10 prizes, each worth 7,000 Euros (more than 7,500 U.S. dollars), across multiple media categories, including written press, radio, television and photography.
Additionally, Bayeux honored a young reporter and an exhibition of the nominees' work before the ceremony commenced on Oct. 3-9, 2022, in Bayeux, France.
