Journalist’s reports on racism win top award
Michael O’Farrell, who was recently appointed political reporter with the newspaper, was one of a number of journalists and activists honoured at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards, presented in Dublin last night.
Michael won his award for a series of reports published in the Irish Examiner in 2002, which judges said helped readers understand the vast
majority of racist attacks are driven by misinformation and confusion. His reports also gave immigrants an opportunity to express their views.
“When I started working for the Irish Examiner two years ago there seemed to be a general lack of coverage of racism and inter-cultural issues by the media. I was glad the newspaper allowed me to give a voice to those who need it most,” he said.
The regional print award went to Cork newspaper, the Evening Echo, which last year introduced a column that highlighted issues affecting different ethnic groups living in Cork.
The overall media award went to Nuala Haughey of the Irish Times for what the judges said was a real and compelling picture of the different non-national communities.
One of the three individual multicultural awards was presented to Latif Serhildan from Kurdistan. Latif, who lives in Cork, is a tireless promoter of democratic rule for Turkish-controlled Kurdistan and non-nationals’ rights in Ireland. His articles in the Evening Echo have received wide attention, as has his radio work.
Traveller campaigner Rosaleen McDonagh, who last summer nominated herself for election to the Seanad from the Trinity College constituency, also won an individual award, as did Anton McCabe, a prominent trade unionist who has worked to improve social conditions for migrant workers.
The overall multicultural award went to Calypso Productions, which the judges described as a great creative communicator, that recognised there was no suitable outlet for teenage artists from the new ethnic communities. The Guinness Bursary (5,000) went to Piarás Mac Enrí, director of the Irish Centre for Migration Studies, NUI Cork.
Both IBEC and ICTU received the special judges’ award for their outstanding contribution in making Irish society truly intercultural.
It is the second year of the awards established by Metro Éireann and supported by RTÉ. The chief executive of the Equality Authority and chair of the judging panel Niall Crowley said up to now, the challenge of an intercultural society had not been met with any great success.
