Two articles from Clarín and an interview from Revista Ñ, awarded by the Inter-American Press Association

The deputy editor-in-chief of Revista Ñ, Héctor Pavón , was honored by the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) for an interview with German critic and cultural historian Jens Balzer, published in the monthly cultural outlet published by the newspaper Clarín . Titled "Jens Balzer. Cultural Appropriation, Art and Politics," it received first mention in the "Interview" category within the framework of the 2025 Journalism Excellence Awards , "which highlight the diversity and rigor of the best journalism in the Americas and Spain," according to the regional media organization.

"Can it be considered a crime to wear dreadlocks, because they are a symbol of Rastafarian and Jamaican culture; to eat Japanese food with a fork; or to wear clothing with Aztec motifs without knowing their exact meaning? These are just some of the most cited and clear examples of cultural appropriation , an issue that challenges the origin of all expressions of music, painting, film, literature, folklore, customs, religions, and even politics." Thus begins the article that received First Honorable Mention in the Alejandro Miró Quesada Garland Interview Award , sponsored by El Comercio, Peru.

In that category, the winning text was "Pepe Mujica: At 20, love is a bonfire. At 80, a sweet custom to fight loneliness," by journalist Hugo Alconada Mon , published in the Argentine newspaper La Nación.

"It's a great joy," explained Héctor Pavón, upon hearing the news. "I've been doing cultural interviews for many years, and I feel that this one had its own special flavor due to the characteristics of the person in question. It largely represents my readings, my journalistic journey, and the fields in which I work and share with my colleagues at Ñ. In fact, it's also a recognition for the beloved Ñ Magazine, which persists and insists on continuing its path . It's an honor to have shared the shortlist of finalists with my Colombian colleague Diego León Giraldo, and our fellow countryman, the renowned winner Hugo Alconada Mon."

Héctor Pavón is assistant editor and deputy editor-in-chief of Revista Ñ. He graduated from the University of Buenos Aires with a degree in Communication Sciences and is the author of the book Intellectuals and Politics in Argentina (2012) and co-author of All Leonardo Da Vinci in the 21st Century (2019).

Pavón chose to propose this dialogue because, he said, "it was a work in which I mixed the genre of the interview and the classic interpretative journalism today, perhaps, known as 'in-depth'. Jens Balzer is a German academic who is also a journalist and that produced an enlightening and forceful book on the subject of cultural appropriation. In addition, he wrote another text on "the end?" of wokism and knows very well what is happening in Europe with the fearsome rise of the extreme right . In the conversation, he also spoke about Milei."

The IAPA awards distinctions in 12 categories, along with 24 honorable mentions , which this year went to reporters from media outlets in Trinidad, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Peru, Chile, Nicaragua, the United States, Canada, and Spain.

In addition to Clarín and Revista Ñ , journalistic articles from the newspapers La Nación and Infobae and the website El Grito del Sur were also recognized for Argentina. All will receive their awards at the official presentation ceremony, which will take place during the 81st IAPA General Assembly, from October 16 to 19, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

" How do you embrace a grave? It's 8:42 in the morning and in the Darwin cemetery, in the Falkland Islands , the cold makes the raindrops freeze into hail. There are minutes left until the arrival of the relatives of those fallen in the war, whose remains lie buried on this hill, at the foot of an imposing cenotaph, under the mantle of the Virgin of Luján. What is going to happen is difficult to describe in words. To say that it is exciting would be a commonplace," begins the chronicle by Pablo Javier Blanco , distinguished with the second honorable mention in the Chronicle category.

Pablo Javier Blanco is also deputy editor and deputy editor of the digital desk. Born in Tierra del Fuego, he writes about politics but has covered two World Cups. Previously, he worked at 20 Palabras, Perfil.com, Diario Libre, and Noticias Magazine. He hosts the program "No hay plata" on Radio Con Vos and has written books with Miguel Wiñazki, Pablo Sirvén, and Edi Zunino, among others.

"This year's award-winning work reflects the enormous quality and courage of many journalists, in a context marked by the rise of authoritarianism , democratic decline, polarization, misleading narratives, and the economic crisis affecting the media industry," explained María Lorente, president of the IAPA Awards Committee and regional director for Latin America at Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He added: "It is admirable and auspicious to recognize these pieces of content of the highest professional and human value, which not only reflect the talent of several journalists and newsrooms, but also the commitment of their authors to our societies' right to be informed."

As in previous editions, the jury (made up of representatives from various media outlets in the region) highlighted the thematic breadth of the submitted works , which range from denouncing human trafficking in the Caribbean to the resilience of indigenous communities in the face of the climate crisis in Canada, as well as investigations into corruption, organized crime, and forced migration.

For his part, Alejandro Borensztein 's column, which won second honorable mention in the Opinion category , begins thus: "It's been a while since we've seen a president as unique as Javier Milei. On the one hand, he's stabilizing the economy, lowering inflation, and dismantling some schemes like the one in Tierra del Fuego. On the other, the guy is an ill-mannered beast without parallel in the history of the West . He may be fine with the fiscal deficit, but as Head of State he has unacceptable attitudes and some ideas that haven't been heard since the Middle Ages. It hurts to say it, but sometimes it's embarrassing."

Although trained as an architect, Alejandro Borensztein has a career built in the media as a television producer and columnist. Son of the legendary comic actor Tato Bores, he was president of the Argentine Chamber of Independent Television Producers and vice president of the Economic and Social Council of the City of Buenos Aires. He is also the author of the books Kirchnerist Comedy in New York (2010), Chief Compañera for Everyone (2012), The Year of Compañero Papa (2013), Cristina and the Martians (2014), The Hour of Compañero Macri (2015), Educating Mr. Macri (2016), and Balcarce, the Dog Who Defeated Kirchnerism (2017).

SP officials stated: " A growing trend is the use of innovative narratives, combining data journalism and multimedia formats to connect with audiences on a deeper level and show a more human side of stories. The winners also reflect the strength of digital media and the growing transnational collaboration in journalistic projects."