Intended Consequences named as first web winner of Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards

Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism today announced the 2010 winners of the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards. MediaStorm is honored to be the first web recipient of a duPont Award, for Intended Consequences, by Jonathan Torgovnik. From their site: In painfully intimate interviews photojournalist Jonathan Torgovnik explores an unfathomable question: can a mother can love a child born out of rape. The women profiled in this haunting multimedia presentation were caught in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when mass rapes resulted in the birth of an estimated 20,000 children. It spotlights an issue which had not been as widely covered as other war crimes in Rwanda, and is the first Web-based production to win a duPont Award. The women speak simply about their brutal experiences, their isolation and suffering, and the way forward. The producers made excellent creative choices that contributed to the impact of the reporting without resorting to sensationalism. The…

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Witness: Photographers, Journalists, and Social Workers Respond to Tragedy

If you're near New York City on December 3, this looks like a great event to attend: Witness: Photographers, Journalists, and Social Workers Respond to Tragedy Panel at Columbia University Location: New York City Date: Dec. 3, 2008 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m Panelists: Grace Christ, Donna DeCesare, Jack Saul, Bruce Shapiro RSVP: Kate Black, kate.black@dartcenter.org Unlike social workers or therapists—the witnesses of the helping professions—journalists and photographers function mainly to inform, interpret, and bridge rather than to help directly. Documentary photographers can inspire understanding and compassion with their images and can contribute to opening paths to assistance. Yet there are pitfalls and ethical challenges when documenting stories about communities or individuals who have been through traumatic experiences. This panel will explore ways to strengthen the impact of documentary practice, sharing knowledge and practices of inclusion across disciplines. Panelists - Bruce Shapiro, executive director, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma (moderator)…

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