Paul Salopek
Paul Salopek (born February 9, 1962 in Barstow , California , grew up in Mexico ) is an American journalist and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner . He is a Johannesburg-based correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and also works for National Geographic .
Activity and awards
Paul Salopek began his journalistic work in 1985. He worked for National Geographic , partly in Mexico, then for the Chicago Tribune on migration, environmental and urban issues. He reported on conflicts in Central America , New Guinea and the Balkans . Later, he was Africa correspondent and traveled several times to various conflicts ( war of secession in southern Sudan , the conflict in eastern Sudan , the Darfur conflict ) affected Sudan .
In 1998 Salopek won the Pulitzer Prize for Background Coverage for two articles on the Human Genome Project , and in 2001 the Pulitzer Prize for Foreign Coverage for a report on the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
Arrested in Darfur / Sudan in 2006
In 2006 Paul Salopek was traveling for National Geographic in the crisis region of Darfur in western Sudan to write a report about the Sahel zone . On August 6 of the same year, he and two Chaders (drivers and translators) were arrested there and taken to prison. Salopek was accused of "illegal entry, spreading false news and espionage". On September 10, he was due to go to court in al-Fashir in the state of Shamal Darfur (North Darfur). If convicted, Salopek and his companions from Chad face several years in prison. The presiding judge in the case sentenced the Slovenian presidential envoy and peace activist Tomo Križnar to two years in prison and a fine of US $ 2,400 on August 14 for the same allegations .
The Chicago Tribune and National Geographic called for Paul Salopek's release. A delegation from the US Congress visited Salopek. Bill Richardson , Governor of the US state of New Mexico , met with the Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir and on September 8 was able to get al-Bashir to agree to Salopek's release. Salopek was able to return to New Mexico on September 10th. His Chadian companions were also released.
See also
- Tomo Križnar (the Slovenian President's special envoy for the crisis region, who was also arrested in Darfur)
Web links
- Sudan Tribune of 27 August 2006 on the arrest Salopeks in Darfur (English)
- Sudan Tribune August 28: Protests against arrest (English)
- Sudan Tribune September 11: Paul Salopek is released and returns to the United States (English)
- The torn Sudan - report by Paul Salopek about the war in South Sudan in 2003
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Salopek, Paul |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American journalist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 9, 1962 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Barstow , California , USA |