Radio Don Bosco awarded first place in the radio journalism category by the Association of Public Defenders of the State of Ceará

(MissionNewswire) Radio Don Bosco (Radio Dom), an online radio station established by Salesian missionaries and students in 2017 in Curitiba, Brazil, has been awarded first place in the radio journalism category by the Association of Public Defenders of the State of Ceará. This award, announced on Nov. 29, gave recognition to an investigative report created by two of the station’s journalists about the violence and murders committed in that state.

The report, “Who was killed? Black, poor and of the peripheries: The profile of murder victims in Ceará,” was broadcast on Nov. 1 and was produced by journalists Jocasta Pimentel and Roberta Farias. It highlights the profile of the majority of murder victims in Fortaleza, based on a study carried from the Office of Public Defenders of the State of Ceará.

The award, now in its fifth edition, had as its theme “Public defenders: Ensuring rights, justice and citizenship for the most needy.” It included four categories in the journalistic competition: print (including both newspapers and magazines), radio, television, and online/digital news portals. Awards are also given in the same categories to university students who are taking social communication/journalism courses.

Andrea Coelho, president of the Association of Public Defenders of the State of Ceará, noted that the journalism awards honor and recognize the work of journalists, reporters, and communication professionals who contribute to spreading the message of the public defenders’ values of democracy, citizenship, and human rights.

Youth produce the majority of the content that is aired on Radio Don Bosco, which is an integral part of the Salesian communication network in Brazil and is maintained in association with Vatican Radio and other broadcasters. Today, Radio Don Bosco has 20 programs and an audience of more than 150,000 listeners. The radio headquarters are in Lorraine with other centers in Curitiba, São Paulo and Piracicaba.

“The radio station is yet another avenue to reach youth and promote hope through education and social development,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Students working at the station also have a chance to have hands-on work experience and gain the skills necessary for long-term stable employment.”

Issues of income inequality and social exclusion remain the root causes for those living in poverty in Brazil. Inequalities also exist in access to education and educational efficiency. These inequalities are greatest for children and youth who are poor, live in rural areas or who have an incomplete compulsory education. Salesians working with poor youth and their families in Brazil develop programs and provide youth with opportunities for furthering their education and skills.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

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