Univision's
Jorge Ramos was presented the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for
"lifetime
achievement in defending press freedom" Tuesday at the 2014
Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Awards.
During his speech before the group of journalists and media executives,
Ramos made the case for journalists to drop the facade of impartiality
and to use their voices and influence not just to inform but as
activists to change policy:
"The best of journalism
happens
when we take a stand: when we question those who are in power, when we
confront the politicians who abuse their authority, when we denounce an
injustice," Ramos said. "The best of journalism happens when we side
with the victims, with the most vulnerable, with those who have no
rights. The best of journalism happens when we, purposely, stop
pretending that we are neutral and recognize that we have a moral
obligation to tell truth to power."
The Huffington Post reports that the journalist many consider to be one
of the most influential in America used the Iraq war as an example of
what journalists should do with their power:
"Sadly, we stayed silent
before
the war in Iraq and thousands of American soldiers and tens of
thousands of Iraq civilians died unnecessarily," he continued. "We have
to learn from that. Silence is the worst sin in journalism. But the
best is when journalism becomes a way of doing justice and speaking
truth to power."
Ramos pointed to a quote by the great Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie
Wiesel to bring his point home: “We must take sides. Neutrality helps
the oppressor, never the victim.”
