Claudia Núñez is Awarded the FELIX VARELA Award for Excellence in Spanish-language Journalism.

Claudia Núñez, journalist for La Opinión newspaper was recently awarded first prize winner in the category of Spanish-language Print Journalism for her series “Esclavos del Siglo XXI”/ “Slaves of the 21st Century.” The series was selected for it well-documented reporting of Mexican immigrants lured to Northern California by false promises of well paying jobs and end up as virtual slaves in service jobs. “Ms. Nuñez captures the human drama of this story of our times,” said the jury, adding that “the series is exquisitely crafted, meticulously reported and captures the human dimension of the male and female immigrants caught in a pernicious web of human trafficking, which has become a crisis of global proportions.”  The Felix Varela Award consists of a $10,000 cash prize, the largest cash award in the U.S. Hispanic press. The inaugural ceremony will be held at Temple University in Philadelphia on September 30, 2008.

 “More than a journalistic recognition, The Felix Varela Award signifies the acknowledgment of the human beings who had the courage to break their silence and denounce their own slavery, while risking their lives, so other victims could be freed.  It was an honor having shared their stories, and now it is a profound privilege for me to receive this recognition presented by the AL DÍA Foundation,” said Claudia Núñez, La Opinión Reporter.

Ms. Núñez received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Autonomous University of La Laguna in Torreón, Coahuila in Mexico.  She began her career in journalism in 1998 as a reporter for Torreón’s local daily, El Siglo.  In 2000 Ms. Núñez moved to California to become the Mexican correspondent for the Mexican States Editors Association, which is comprised of 20 Mexican daily publications. Since May 2007, Ms. Núñez has been working as a journalist on immigration issues, drug policy and human interest stories for impreMedia’s Los Angeles newspaper, La Opinión, the country’s largest Spanish-language daily. 

“Claudia Núñez exemplifies true professional reporting,” said Pedro Rojas, Executive Editor for La Opinión. “It is an honor to work with such a dedicated journalist like Claudia.”

This year alone, Claudia was recognized as The Latina Journalist of the Year 2008 by The National Association of Hispanic Publications and received The José Martí Publishing Award, among various awards by the Society of Professional Journalists throughout her career. 

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