Méxicoleaks, a digital platform that accepts anonymous information from the public, has made the shortlist for the 2016 Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards in the category of digital activism.
“In a country where, between drug cartels and the government, censorship and self-censorship is rife, Méxicoleaks is on the forefront of the fight against corruption,” said the Index on Censorship website.
Citizens can use the platform to submit information to news outlets and civil society organizations, including Animal Político, emeequis, Másde131, Periodistas de a Pie, Poder, Proceso, La Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales or Aristegui Noticias.
Méxicoleaks was one of five organizations from Latin America that made the #Index100 list and the only one to make it to the shortlist. It was one of five organizations from around the world to be recognized in the Digital Activism field.
The Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards recognize “the courage and creativity of some of the world’s greatest journalists, artists, campaigners and digital activists,” according to the organization’s site.
Index on Censorship, an international freedom of expression organization based in the United Kingdom, announced the short list of candidates on Feb. 9. Winners will be announced at an awards gala in April in London and will also earn a year-long fellowship.
Any organization or individual was able to apply or nominate a group or person for the Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression award. Candidates are judged according to courage, creativity, resilience and recognizable impact over the last 12 months.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
