Senior Fellow Kemal Kurspahic honored by World Press Institute.

WASHINGTON -- On April 19, U.S. Institute of Peace Senior Fellow and managing editor of the Connection Newspapers Kemal Kurspahic was named as one of the International Press Institute's (IPI) 50 Press Freedom Heroes from the last 50 years. Chosen as part of IPI's 50th anniversary celebration, winners were selected from a long list of journalists who have made a significant contribution to the defense or promotion of press freedom in their country or on a global basis over the last 50 years, especially -- but not only -- if this involved acts of resistance or bravery under harsh conditions (e.g., physical attacks, threats, harassment, censorship, imprisonment, kidnapping, exile, administrative, legal and economic pressure).

Kurspahic gained a reputation worldwide for his hard hitting reporting and journalistic integrity during his tenure as the editor-in-chief of the Sarajevo daily newspaper Oslobodenje. He led the paper through three historic phases: its break from Communist Party control in the '80's; maintenance of its newly acquired independence through a constitutional court case in 1991; and, the production of daily publications without interruption in 1992-94 while the city was under siege during the Bosnian war. He now serves as editor for the Connection Newspapers, where he manages content for the McLean, Great Falls, and Vienna, Virginia, editions of the paper.

Kurspahic has received numerous awards for his work in journalism including, World Press Review's International Editor of the Year for 1993, and the Bruno Kreisky Award for Human Rights in 1993. Kurspahic is also the author of several books including, As Long as Sarajevo Exists and Letters from the War. He is currently a senior fellow in the Institute's Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program, where he is conducting research on the application of media to conflict resolution.

IPI will honor Kurspahic and all of the other 50 World Press Freedom Heroes on May 3, 2000, "World Press Freedom Day," during its World Congress in Boston, USA (April 29 -- May 3, 2000).

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