Washington, D.C. – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced that Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, NPR foreign correspondent, will receive the Edward R. Murrow Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution to public radio.
CPB will present the Murrow Award to Garcia-Navarro for her in-depth coverage of world events, particularly from volatile regions – a hallmark of her reporting – and in honor of all international correspondents and journalists who undertake great risks to report on the people and cultures impacted by conflict.
“International reporters such as Lourdes Garcia-Navarro are dedicated journalists who are often in harm’s way as they report from conflict areas, telling the story as it occurs and keeping us informed,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “Ms. Garcia-Navarro’s courage and determination in reporting represents the best of public media journalism and makes her truly deserving of the Edward R. Murrow Award.”
“On behalf of the CPB Board of Directors, we are pleased to present the Edward R. Murrow award to Lourdes Garcia-Navarro,” said Bruce Ramer, chairman of the CPB Board of Directors. “It is fitting that Lourdes receive this award named after the famed war correspondent. With this award, we honor her dedication and service, as well as the courage of those like her who ensure that we are all informed about important world events and issues.”
Garcia-Navarro is perhaps best known for her coverage of the Middle East. Over the past year, her reports have been an important part of NPR’s coverage of the Arab Spring. She was one of the first reporters to enter Libya after the uprising last year, providing powerful and sound-rich descriptions of the conflict. Now based in Jerusalem, Garcia-Navarro has turned her attention to reporting on the challenges Libya and other affected countries face after the liberation.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Edward R. Murrow award from CPB,” said Garcia-Navarro. “Covering foreign news has become more dangerous, expensive and complicated than ever but it has never been more vital. My overseas colleagues often put themselves in harm’s way to report stories that illuminate global events and their impact for our audience. I humbly accept this award on behalf of my fellow foreign correspondents and the local staff who help them.”
She will receive her award at an event in Washington later this month.
Garcia-Navarro became NPR's correspondent based in Jerusalem in 2009. Prior to that, she reported from Iraq as NPR News’ Baghdad bureau chief from 2008-2009. She also spent three years as NPR's foreign correspondent in Mexico City, reporting from that region as well as on special assignments abroad.
Garcia-Navarro got her start in journalism as a freelancer with the BBC World Service and Voice of America, reporting from Cuba, Syria, Panama and Europe. She later became a producer for Associated Press Television News (APTN) before transitioning to AP Radio. While there, Garcia-Navarro covered post-Sept. 11 events in Afghanistan and developments in Jerusalem. From 2002 to 2004, she was based in Iraq.
She holds a B.S. in international relations from Georgetown University and an M.A. in journalism from City University in London. She was the recipient of the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize in 2006 for a two-part series “Migrants' Job Search Empties Mexican Community,” and also shared in two awards honoring NPR News’ Iraq reporting: a Peabody Award in 2005, and a 2007 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.