Mónica Velásquez Villacís, an Ecuadoran journalist with La Posta, was announced as one of this year's recipients of the annual Courage in Journalism Awards, granted by the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) to honor the remarkable bravery of women and non-binary journalists in their pursuit of reporting.
In its announcement, the IWMF highlighted Velásquez Villacís' dedication to her investigative work on drug trafficking and political corruption.
“Her reports have led to the removal and prosecution of government officials, and numerous legal procedures, which led to death threats and defamation from public leaders, driving Velásquez Villacís into temporary exile,” the organization said.
Velásquez Villacís said that receiving the IWMF Courage Award was an immense honor and a profound motivation to continue her work, and reminded that being a woman journalist requires not only professional excellence but extraordinary resistance.
"For me, this award is a testimony to the impact that journalism can have on society and a reminder of the need to persevere. We are paving the way for an entire generation who we hope will see journalism as a profession where women can, and do, take risks to get to the truth," she said, according to the IWMF press release.
The other two 2024 honorees are New Hampshire Public Radio's Lauren Chooljian (U.S.) and freelance journalist Maha Hussaini (Palestina). The winners will be recognized during a private ceremony in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, and a lunchtime gala in New York City on Oct. 9.
