2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Best In Depth/Investigative (In-Language)

Winner

"Twenty First Century Slaves" (a series)
Claudia Núñez, La Opinión

Runner Up

"American Dream in Single Room Dwelling"
Weijiang Huang, Sing Tao Daily

Honorable Mention

"I Want to Be With My Mom"
Milagros Melendez, El Tiempo Latino

Best In Depth/Investigative (In-Language)

Winner: Claudia Núñez, "Twenty First Century Slaves" (a series), La Opinión (Los Angeles, California)

When Claudia Núñez got a phone call from a woman whose sister had disappeared, she had no idea it would lead her into a nine-month investigation into human trafficking. But when she traveled to Tijuana to investigate the disappearance, she discovered that the missing woman had been the victim of a trafficking ring that conned Mexican workers into going north with the promise of jobs, only to force them into slave labor in California cities.

"The victim told me that there were more victims," says Núñez. "One of the victims was working in a restaurant. I showed up and said, 'I know this happened to you.'" As she found more victims of the human trafficking ring, Núñez helped them get in contact with local organizations working with the FBI to prosecute the offenders. Many of them did not even know they had rights as trafficking victims.

"It's so hard for a victim to trust anybody after something like this happens," explains Núñez. "Especially at the beginning I was the link between the victims and the organizations that were working with the FBI, because they trusted me."

The investigation led to the arrest of two leaders of the trafficking ring. Two of the victims were given work visas and legal residency, and the young man Núñez interviewed at the restaurant is now back in school.

"It was a great satisfaction for me," says Núñez. "We hear about sex trafficking all the time, but there are very few articles about labor trafficking, which is a much more common problem."

After she published the series, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking in Los Angeles reported receiving an increase in phone calls from Spanish speakers reporting labor abuse. "They got so many phone calls that they realized they needed to hire more Spanish speakers," says Núñez.


« 2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Awards & Expo Photos
NAM Ethnic Media Expo Coverage
2009 Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Awards Winners »

Arts, Sports & Entertainment (English)

Arts, Sports & Entertainment (In-Language)

Best Blogger on Ethnic Perspectives

Best In-Depth/Investigative (English)

Best In-Depth/Investigative (In-Language)

Best Reporting on a Community Issue (Radio)

  • Teacher's Responsibilities vs. Survival Instincts
    Cindy Yip & Otis Fang, Sing Tao Radio

Best Reporting on a Community Issue (TV)

Commentary/Editorial (English)

Commentary/Editorial (In-Language)

Education

Environmental Issues

Ethnic Elders

Healthcare

International Affairs (English)

International Affairs (In-Language)

Photojournalism

Race and Interethnic Relations


NAM Ethnic Media Directory
Stay Connected
NAM Twitter
NAM on Twitter
NAM Facebook
NAM on Facebook
 
Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.

Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.