Miguel Mora wins the Francisco Cerecedo Journalism Prize

With a robust defense of journalism and an ironic thank you for Silvio Berlusconi, the EL PAÍS journalist Miguel Mora yesterday received the Francisco Cerecedo Journalism Prize from Prince Felipe, who said that the journalist "has proven his worth, intelligence and courage in reports and interviews that have brought us closer to, for example, Italian reality from a fresh perspective of emotional affinity and critical distance. "

"His texts show a sharp judgement that combines the rigor of expression and freedom of spirit. He thus successfully enthralls the public," said the Prince. The prize, awarded by the Association of European Journalists, recognizes "the exemplary exercise of professional independence, knowledge of the issues addressed and journalistic and literary quality."

During his acceptance speech, Mora (Madrid, 1964) described the challenges facing a profession undergoing an industrial paradigm shift "from ink to Gutenberg to Jobs' Apple" and subjected to increasing pressure from what he called the "Playstation media." Reporters now have at their disposal ultra-flat tablets, laptops, Facebook and Twitter accounts, iPhone and BlackBerry, can receive and send alerts at the swipe of a finger, write stories for the print media and the Internet, while reading comments from readers. "New readers have decided that they prefer us on the Internet," he said, but faced with the possible demise of the print newspaper, journalists should not panic. "The danger is that the media might strive to stand out from the crowd, to be the first but not the best."

The reporter paid tribute to newspaper veterans: "ordinary people, who strove to be honest and good professionals."

That's why it's not yet time to write the obituary for journalism. "Information is vital, now more than ever. It helps us to know more, to think, to be more aware and be better judges and demand more from our leaders. It's oxygen for democracy, oxygen for freedom. And if we don't let it breathe, it won't be journalists or newspapers that disappear. It will be citizens who do so."

Mora recalled his time as a correspondent for EL PAÍS in Rome and satirically dedicated half of his award to Berlusconi. Not many world leaders are such a gift to journalists, he said. "It was enough for me to just be there and to certify that he represents two things at once: the meteorite crashing into the planet and the grass that fed the dinosaurs."

Meanwhile, the Prince of Asturias said that Mora's profession proves "that newspapers, that encounter we have with reality every morning, and independent journalism that contributes so much, justify the reputation enjoyed by the quality press." Prince Felipe also congratulated the journalist "for his great work on flamenco:  his book La voz de los Flamencos is a valuable document on the state of this art form." 

Mora worked for 10 years on the Culture section of EL PAÍS. In 2005 he was appointed the newspaper's correspondent in Lisbon, in 2008 he moved to Rome, and a month ago to París