Press Award honors Brazilian media around the world

From left - Brazuca's magazine Directors Mauro Cardoso and Thiago Araújo, and Yara Cavaignac, Superstation Media/TV GLOBO International (Center) The 12th edition of the Brazilian International Press Award took place from May 7-10, celebrating the art, culture, media, publicity and community actions of Brazilians

residing abroad. The event originated in 1997, by Brazilian journalist and cultural promoter Carlos Borges. Since its inception, the Press Award has been fulfilling its foundational goal of recognizing and honoring the persons, institutions and initiatives that positively promote Brazil's image and culture internationally.

The event has grown each year, giving emphasis to artistic activities, as well as cultural and philantropic social initiatives, as well as promoting the Brazilian language and national sports. The nomination and award process involves public participation and input; along with the consideration of five Award Boards (four regional and one national), there is a popular vote and an electoral college to determine the final results.

From left - Os Mala Stand Up Comedy group Serjão, Eliel and Serginho Quevedo (far right), Celia Bacelar, Tribuna's Publisher, Edilberto Mendes, The Brasilians Chief-Editor, and Emanuela Lima, Tribuna's Editor Journal ism

The Press Award is divided into several categories, including publicity and advertisement, and media and cultural promotion. Publications that work directly with the Brazilian community fall under the media category. This year, 27 different media were recognized, among them the Tribuna Newspaper, which brought home two Press Awards - one Golden Press Award, honoring 10 years of serving the community, and another for Best Front Page, from an issue that focused on the American health care crisis. According to Celia Bacelar, Publisher of Tribuna, "These awards are a very important recognition of our newspaper's ten years in publication, and also an encouragement to continue doing our work with excellence, without allowing the present economic restricitions to affect what we do".

Because of its impeccable organization, the event offered a tremendous networking opportunity for media professionals from across the United States to meet and to exchange ideas and experiences. "I congratulate Carlos Borges for his initiative to create a reputable and important gathering of recognition such as the Press Award. It is an initiative that makes we Brazilians and media professionals feel proud of the work we do," concluded Bacelar.