CIJN Team Triumphs at the 2025 IAPA Excellence in Journalism Awards

The Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network (CIJN) has achieved another milestone in the realm of journalism, as its team has been awarded the 2025 Inter American Press Association (IAPA) Excellence in Journalism honor in the Migration Journalism "Claudio Paolillo" category. This accolade is a testament to the dedication and hard work of its members in shedding light on critical issues affecting the Caribbean region.

The winning piece, titled "Tricked into Sex Slavery Global Crackdown hasn't Stopped Caribbean Traffickers," provides a detailed investigative report on the harrowing experiences of a young Cuban migrant in Suriname. The IAPA Awards Committee praised the report as "a powerful and well-documented investigative report exposing the tragedy of human trafficking in the Caribbean," highlighting the importance of this type of journalism.

This achievement showcases the collaborative efforts of the CIJN team, which included notable names such as Editor/Mentor Freeman Rogers from the British Virgin Islands, alongside Valerie Fris from Suriname, Natanga Smith from Barbados, Roseann Pile from Barbados/Antigua and Barbuda, Soyini Grey from Trinidad and Tobago, and Marion Ali from Belize. Their collective expertise and commitment to high-quality journalism played a crucial role in bringing this important story to the forefront.

In addition to the IAPA award, CIJN’s investigative prowess was recognized at the 36th Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Awards Ceremony held on August 20 in Barbados. The same story that garnered the IAPA award also received top honors for Excellence in Responsible Reporting on Trafficking in Persons. Moreover, another CIJN report, titled "Seniors Climate Change Forgotten Ones," was awarded the CBU Production Awards (Radio) Category for Best Investigative Report. This report was led by Editor/Mentor Wesley Gibbings of Trinidad and Tobago, alongside team members Esther Jones from Barbados, Natalee Legore from Jamaica/Trinidad and Tobago, and Ryan Bachoo from Trinidad and Tobago.

Adding to CIJN's laurels, the multimedia version of the same report, entitled "Barbados' Forgotten Few," also received a Special Mention in the Print Category at the CBU Awards, further emphasizing the organization's impact in the field of investigative journalism.

CIJN's string of successes follows similar achievements at the CBU Awards in previous years. In 2022, David Papannah from Guyana was recognized for his investigative report, "The Climate Test of Guyana's Mangroves," bringing home the Intra-ACP EU-GCCA+ Project award aimed at enhancing climate resilience in CARIFORUM countries. In that same year, Esther Jones earned a Special Mention for her report, "The Cost of Being a Climate Change Champion," under the mentorship of Editor Sasha Chavkin from the USA.

The momentum continued in 2024, with Esther Jones winning top honors in the CariSECURE 2.0 Award for Excellence in Responsible Reporting on Youth Involvement in Crime with her piece, "The Tropical Journey of a Firearm." Notably, she was longlisted for the One World Media Awards - Freelance Journalist of the Year, showcasing her dedication and talent. Furthermore, her report "Mental Break," under Editor/Mentor Jim Clancy, received Special Mention as well.

The CIJN was established in December 2019, spearheaded by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), headquartered in Jamaica. With journalistic reach spanning across 22 Pan-Caribbean states, CIJN is recognized as the region's leading investigative journalism organization, dedicated to producing compelling and impactful stories for diverse audiences.

Kiran Maharaj, President of MIC and CIJN instructor, expressed pride in the recognition received by the CIJN, stating that this reinforces the organization's commitment to fostering regional journalism resources through high-quality training programs and collaborations with esteemed editors and mentors. She emphasized the CIJN's focus on storytelling techniques, research, data accuracy, and verification processes to elevate the standards of journalism in the Caribbean. Maharaj stated, "As Caribbean voices, we must be an active creator of our own stories to truly reflect our circumstances."

CIJN’s achievements not only represent recognition of individual efforts but also highlight the broader impact of investigative journalism in addressing vital issues, such as human trafficking and climate change, affecting the Caribbean community. The organization continues to inspire and empower journalists to strive for excellence, ensuring that important social issues are brought to light and sparking meaningful dialogue across the region.