Press Release
The Paul Klebnikov Fund Awards 2007 Prize for Excellence in Journalism to an Outstanding Environmental Journalist from Belarus
October 3, 2007
New York, NY – The Paul Klebnikov Fund will award its 2007 Prize for Excellence in Journalism to Vitaly Lipik, an accomplished environmental journalist from Belarus, Special Correspondent of Belarusian online publication www.open.by.
As part of the prize, Lipik will participate in a five-week fellowship at Science Magazine, an international weekly journal, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
"Vitaly Lipik started his professional life as a scientist, and with tremendous bravery has resolved to serve a greater good as a journalist by exposing environmental threats to public welfare," said Musa Klebnikov, Executive Director of the Paul Klebnikov Fund. "Vitaly's journalism is of immense importance to the future of the region's environment and public health, as well as evolution of civil society. It is significant that he uses an online magazine as his primary outlet."
In addition to receiving the award, Vitaly Lipik will headline a November 5 dialogue on environmental journalism entitled, Troubled Land: Who's Watching over Russia's Environment? The discussion, hosted by The Paul Klebnikov Fund, the New York University Department of Journalism will be moderated by Serge Schmemann, award-winning Editorial Page Editor of the International Herald Tribune, and will feature Peter Matthiessen, an internationally acclaimed author and naturalist.
About Vitaly Lipik
Vitaly Lipik is a scientist, award-winning Belarusian environmental journalist, and author of numerous scientific works. He is also a frequent contributor to a leading Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty. Vitaly Lipik specializes in topics of bioecology, bioethics, toxic poisons, waste management and pollution. He holds a PhD from the Belarusian State Technological University in Natural Resources, Environmental Management and Polymeric Waste Processing, and was recently named one of the top 30 Belarusian scientists.
About the Fund
The Paul Klebnikov Fund upholds the growth of civil society in Russia by supporting journalistic integrity, the rule of law and the preservation of its cultural heritage. The Fund awards an annual prize to a journalist whose work advances Paul's vision of journalism as a means of social growth.
