CNN correspondent Arwa Damon, Serbian TV reporter Brankica Stanković, and the editor-in-chief of one of the few independent media outlets in the Congo, Solange Lusiku Nsimire, will be honored by their peers at the 25th International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday.
The IWMF celebrates the courage of women journalists who overcome threats and oppression to speak out on global issues. In protest of the owner of the Beverly Hills Hotel’s policies, the IWMF cancelled their contract with the hotel and moved it to the Beverly Hilton earlier this year.
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TheWrap’s CEO and Founder Sharon Waxman is a co-chair with Willow Bay, Director of the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. Olivia Wilde and Glamour Magazine Editor-In-Chief Cindi Leive serve as hosts.
A companion event at Cipriani’s 42nd Street in NYC took place earlier this week for the same honorees. Norah O’Donnell and Cynthia McFadden hosted the east coast installment.
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From information provided in a media release, calling the honorees brave would be an understatement.
Brankica Stanković has been under 24-hour police protection since 2009, while continuing to investigate Serbia’s political and economic elites. She is a prominent investigative journalist, and uncovers corruption and crime, earning her explicit death threats.
CNN’s Damon has dodged bombs and gunfire while reporting on the revolutions, war, and terrorism across places few in the Beverly Hilton will ever go – Libya, Syria, and Iraq.
Solage Lusiku Nsmire runs Le Souverain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She continued to publish the independent newspaper (meaning independent of corrupt power brokers and bands of Rwandan genocidaires, those who commit genocide) despite enemies bringing their intimidation to her front door, attacking her family home.
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Muse singer Matt Bellamy (significant other of Kate Hudson), Jason Sudeikis, “Gone Girl’s” Sela Ward, Abigail Spencer, Paula Abdul, and Bo Derek amongst other bold face names will come to shine a light on the work of the above honorees.
Lisa Ling, whose own sister Laura was held captive in North Korea until President Bill Clinton made a special trip to ensure her release, will present one of the awards. Kate Hudson and Aaron Sorkin will also present.
Bank of America, Chevron, and the Los Angeles Times are sponsoring the night, which wil include a performance by Carly Paoli.
Individual tickets starting at $1,000 and tables starting at $10,000 are available at www.iwmf.org/tickets