Costa Rica: Blogger Awarded National Culture Award for Journalism · Global Voices
Jenny Cascante Gonzalez

Alternative media is taking important steps in Costa Rica.  The Pío Viquez National Award for Journalism was granted this year to Cristian Cambronero for his achievements in alternative journalism.  Cristian has been publishing in his blog Fusil de Chispas [es] since 2005 encouraging the participation of readers on topics from politics and social media, to culture and music among others.  He also had actively participated and promoted activities such as the First International Encounter of Citizen Journalism [es] and similar initiatives, which its main objective is the enhancement of technology with traditional broadcast.
Photo of Cristian Cambronero and used with permission.
The National Culture Awards [es] have been celebrated since 1961 by the Ministry of Culture.  They look to recognize the efforts and accomplishments that people, groups and organizations make in Art, Science, Popular Traditional Culture and Journalism. This is the first time that digital media has been taken into account as part of the nominations.
The good news was quickly spread through social networks and twitter. Some bloggers were inspired by the announcement of a colleague receiving such an important honor. Alberto González points out in his blog Por Escrito [es]:
Internet ha venido sacudiendo los cimientos de los medios de comunicación tradicionales desde su incepción, y a través del periodismo del Fusil podemos ver los signos de ese cambio inexorable: Un periodismo participativo, subjetivo.
Luis Diego Molina writes on Habla Costa Rica [es]:
Esto recalca la importancia que la web y los medios ciudadanos están alcanzando en nuestro país y en la formación de una opinión pública más democrática.
Julia Ardón expresses her feelings towards the announcement [es]:
Su blog ha sido una de las más frescas contribuciones al ambiente de la comunicación en Costa Rica. Un trabajo, donde, como él mismo lo dice “La Pasión va primero”
Cristian leaves a thankful note in his blog Fusil de Chispas [es]:
De momento lo realmente claro es que la naturaleza misma de un blog lo haría perder su esencia si fuera unidireccional. Es la participación lo que ha hecho que el Fusil funcione, y sirva para algo. El más honesto agradecimiento para todos los que pasan por aquí.