FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
March 05, 2008
Venezuela's Vera Wins Citi 2008 Journalism Award for Excellence
Caracas, Venezuela – Blanca Vera, journalist of El Nacional newspaper, won the first place of Citibank 2008 Journalism Award for Excellence and a scholarship to attend, together with journalists of over 30 countries, one of the most important journalism seminars worldwide. It is the Specialized Journalism Seminar on Economics and Finance to be held in New York City.
As explained Bernardo Chacin, President Citibank Venezuela, the most prominent aspect of the award is the winner's participation in a ten-day business and finance seminar in New York hosted by the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and sponsored by Citi. This is a professional enhancement program that provides participants with rigorous workshops on accounting and finance principles, as well as visits to key institutions, policy-makers and other leaders of recent economic schools of thought. "With this award we recognize the work and talent of Venezuelan journalists who add value day by day to the economics, finance, strategies and business sources, both printed and audiovisual," remarked Chacin. The 2008 Seminar will be held in New York from June 2-13, 2008.
Blanca Vera Asaf is a journalist who graduated from Universidad Central de Venezuela, with a Masters in Communications from Westminster University in London, and began her career at El Globo newspaper. She also worked on Primicia magazine. Upon demonstrating her talent and knowledge in the El Nacional 2005 anniversary issue she became part of the team covering the finance sources, and has been working there since.
Vera obtained the award with her article, "Who Control the Miranda Fund?," published in El Nacional newspaper. The journalist covered in the article all the stages of the so-called Miranda Fund, a financial mechanism devised by the National Government to expedite the allocation of resources. The journalist analyzed such mechanism, inquired deputies to the National Assembly about the details of its implementation, and showed the opinion of different analysts in this regard.
In addition to attending the Columbia University Seminar, the Venezuelan journalist will also include in her agenda, as winner of the competition, a tour by different multilateral organizations such as The New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Treasury, as well as the Citi Board of Directors in New York.
The Citibank Journalism Award for Excellence represents a unique experience for Vera: "It gives me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge about different economic issues and share, at the same time, my journalistic experiences with other colleagues of different countries within an academic environment."
The winner reached the final stage of this competition together with two finalists, also outstanding Venezuelan journalists: Desiree Lozano from Ultimas Noticias newspaper and Business Venezuela columnist with her work "Magic is needed to Export," and Maria Gabriela Aguzzi from El Mundo evening newspaper who wrote an article about finance titled "Banking debates between capitalizing and merging."
The three professionals were honored by Citi on Wednesday, March 5, at the bank's home office in Caracas. Citi Board of Directors and personalities of the economic, public opinion and academic sectors attended the celebration.
The 2008 edition jury is composed of Edmond Saade, Venancham Former President and Datos President; Ricardo Degwitz Editorial President NOTITARDE; Luis Vicente Leon, Director Datanalisis; Txomin Las Heras, Director Institutional Communications Banco Central de Venezuela; Alfredo Keller, Director Alfredo Keller y Asociados; Tiziana Polesel, Director School of Journalism Universidad Catolica Andres Bello and David Rodriguez, 2007 Winner of Dinero magazine.
The Journalism Award for Excellence was established by Citi in 1982. Since then the professional work of more than 300 journalists of over 100 media and 37 countries has been recognized.
The attendees drank a toast for this achievement and wish the best of luck to this Venezuelan journalist who adds a new success to her already outstanding professional track record.
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