February 10, 2005

Ecuadorian journalist Edwin Chamorro, Spanish news director at Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, received the National Journalism Award in the radio category at a special ceremony Friday, Jan. 28. Ecuador's National Union of Journalists (UNP), celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, decorated Chamorro for professional excellence in 2004. "As journalists we have been given the capacity to inform others," the UNP noted. "No one does it better than him."

Chamorro, a journalism graduate of Quito's Central University, produces the program, "Foro Latinoamericano" (Latin American Forum). He is also a professor at HCJB World Radio's Christian Center of Communications (CCC) in Quito.

The previous day, Chamorro spoke to the Latin American Council of Churches on the theme of Ecuador's political instability. A number of leading pastors and evangelical church leaders from across Ecuador were present at the meeting.

At this meeting Carlos Pinto, director of HCJB World Radio's Education Division, lauded Chamorro for his "objective way of presenting the news, his versatility in producing cultural programs, the consistency of his faith and his untarnished 18-year career as a journalist at Radio Station HCJB."

"My job is to be a journalist," Chamorro said. "I was meant for this occupation, it's my passion." Students at the CCC describe him as someone who completes his job with "professionalism, dedication, sacrifice and unselfishness."

The UNP has given numerous awards to Radio Station HCJB throughout the years. Twice in the past five years the station was honored for its "contributions to the advancement of communication of news in the country." (HCJB World Radio)