Alternative media is taking important steps in Costa Rica. The 2009 Pío Viquez National Award for Journalism (Premio Nacional de Periodismo Pío Víquez) was granted this year to Cristian Cambronero for his achievements in alternative journalism.


The Costa Rica National Culture Awards (los premios nacionales de cultura) have been celebrated since 1961 by the Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud de Costa Rica). They look to recognize the efforts and accomplishments that people, groups and organizations make in Art, Science, Popular Traditional Culture and Journalism. This is the first time that digital media has been taken into account as part of the nominations.


Fellow bloggers were inspired by the announcement of a colleague receiving such an important honor:

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"Internet ha venido sacudiendo los cimientos de los medios de comunicación tradicionales desde su incepción, y a través del periodismo del Fusil podemos ver los signos de ese cambio inexorable: Un periodismo participativo, subjetivo." -Alberto González, Por Escrito

English translation: Internet has been shaking the foundations of traditional communication media and through Fusil's journalism we can observe this relentless change: a participative, subjective journalism.

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"Esto recalca la importancia que la web y los medios ciudadanos están alcanzando en nuestro país y en la formación de una opinión pública más democrática." -Luis Diego Molina, Habla Costa Rica

English translation: It makes an statement on the importance that the web and citizen media are having in our country and in the formation of a more democratic public opinion.

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"Su blog ha sido una de las más frescas contribuciones al ambiente de la comunicación en Costa Rica. Un trabajo, donde, como él mismo lo dice “La Pasión va primero" -Julia Ardón, JuliaArdon.com

English translation: His blog has been one of the more refreshing contributions to the environment of communication that Costa Rica has had. A piece of work where, as he says, passion comes first.

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Cristian posted a thankful note in his own blog Fusil de Chispas:

"De momento lo realmente claro es que la naturaleza misma de un blog lo haría perder su esencia si fuera unidireccional. Es la participación lo que ha hecho que el Fusil funcione, y sirva para algo. El más honesto agradecimiento para todos los que pasan por aquí." -Cristian Cambronero, Costa Rica award winning journalist blogger

English translation: Right now, it is really clear that a blog's nature could lose its essence if it only works unidirectionally. Participation is what makes the Fusil valuable and functional. My honest gratitude to everyone that stops by here.

source: globalvoicesonline.org