Jailed Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu named winner of 2013 UNESCO Press Freedom Prize

Imprisoned Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu has been named the winner of the 2013 UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Announcing the winner April 16, 2013, UNESCO said Ms Alemu was recommended by an independent international jury of media professionals in recognition of her “exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression.”

Accordingly, the Jury took note of Reeyot Alemu’s contribution to numerous and independent publications.

She is noted for writing critically about political and social issues, focusing on the root causes of poverty and gender equality.

Reeyot worked for several independent media. In 2010 she founded her own publishing house and a monthly magazine called “Change”, both of which were subsequently closed.

In June 2011, while working as a regular columnist for “Feteh,” a national weekly newspaper, Ms Alemu was arrested.

She is currently serving a five year sentence in Kality prison.

The UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was created in 1997 and it is awarded annually during the celebration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, which will take place this year in Costa Rica.

By Ekow Quandzie