Leila Guerriero Wins Maria Moors Cabot Prize for Embracing Complexity in Journalism

Argentine writer, journalist, and editor Leila Guerriero has been honored with the Maria Moors Cabot Prize, one of journalism's most esteemed international awards. Established in 1938 by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the prize recognizes journalistic excellence and contributions to the understanding of the Americas.

Guerriero, who also recently won the European Strega Prize for "La llamada. Un retrato," is the first writer from the Americas to receive that award. She shares the Gold Medal of the Maria Moors Cabot Prize with Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell, American journalist Kate Linthicum of the Los Angeles Times, and Venezuelan journalist Luz Mely Reyes, co-founder of the digital media outlet Efecto Cocuyo.

"This is a very important award, the oldest journalism prize in the world, and to have my name among the previous recipients is impressive," Guerriero told LA NACION. "There are wonderful colleagues. I feel very happy and also honored. They don't give it to you for a specific book or piece of work, but for your career, so it feels like a very encouraging pat on the back to keep going."

The jury also awarded special mentions to Jan Martínez Ahrens, director of Spain's El País; David Brooks, a Canadian-American columnist for La Jornada; and Ricardo Trotti, who led the Inter American Press Association for over three decades. The winners will be celebrated at Columbia University on Thursday, October 8.

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This is a very important award, the oldest journalism prize in the world, and to have my name among the previous recipients is impressive. There are wonderful colleagues. I feel very happy and also honored. They don't give it to you for a specific book or piece of work, but for your career, so it feels like a very encouraging pat on the back to keep going.