2022-23 SATW Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition
108 Foreign Travel ( Travel Audio-Podcasts and Guides,Travel Audio-Radio,Travel Magazines,Travel Coverage in General Magazines,Newspapers)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Jason Motlagh Entry Title: Afghanistan’s Lost Road Entry Credit: Jason Motlagh (writer), Balazs Gardi (photographer), Indira Lakshmanan (editor), Jamie Wellford (photo editor) Judge Comment: ‘Afghanistan’s Lost Road’ is a powerful fusion of travel writing and war reporting as a journalist and photographer duo offer an on-the-ground, unsparing view of a resilient yet war-torn country. A year after the Taliban seized power again, the landscape has changed dramatically. The narrative captures it brilliantly over 2,084 miles along National Highway 1 through 18 provinces, where we meet everyone from soldiers to farmers to children struggling to survive the aftermath of a war that killed 150,000 Afghans.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Marriott Bonvoy Traveler Entry Title: Protecting the Burren’s Identity Entry Credit: Vic O'Sullivan, Valerie Conners, Chelo Segear, Kia Delgado, Robin Bennefield Judge Comment: ‘Protecting the Burren’s Identity’ is a compelling tale of the struggle by Ireland to preserve its northwest territory’s ancient beauty and splendor. A rising tide of thoughtless tourists threatens the iconic Burren and Cliffs of Moher, UNESCO Global Geopark’s fragile ecosystem. This work brims with heart, ambition and authority.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Afar Entry Title: 25 Days, 1,959 Miles, 9 Countries Entry Credit: Emma John Judge Comment: This story is a lovely, smart, and often melancholy reckoning with Brexit and a Brit’s trauma over her home country’s decision to leave the European Union. Battling bouts of anger and confusion, Emma John takes a meditative journey from her London home across the continent to rediscover what it means to be European. It’s an inspiring tale of pride, resilience and community outside the cauldron of local and national politics.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Christine Chitnis Entry Title: Beneath the Surface Entry Credit: Christine Chitnis Judge Comment: Christine Chitnis breezily chips away at Portuguese patriarchy by introducing influential women artisans shaping the ancient empire today. While ubiquitous and decidedly male-centric murals depict the country’s important battles and explorers, Chitnis, an expert in the visual history of cultures, brings to center stage an intriguing roster of female creatives whose artistry is spiriting Portugal’s aesthetic into bold new directions.
