Journalist Tomer Urwicz, a professor and graduate of the Bachelor of Communication program with a concentration in Journalism at the School of Communication at Universidad ORT Uruguay, was honored alongside his colleague Carolina Delisa with the Marcelo Jelen National Print Media Award.
The award was given in recognition of their work at El Observador, where they published an investigative report that exposed serious cases of child sexual exploitation and institutional failures that led to the death of a teenage girl.
A story that demands to be told
The investigation, titled "The death of a teenager in Uruguay that exposed stories of sexual exploitation of girls, pregnancies, and an abortion," was published on July 21, 2024.
The jury highlighted the "narrative excellence" and the "power of the journalistic argument" in a feature story that managed to hold the reader's attention throughout a lengthy and harrowing account of the failures of the state's child protection system.
The story began with an anonymous tip:
An anonymous source (let's call him Deep Throat) alerted us that a pregnant teenager under the care of the INAU had died.
Although some of the initial information was unclear, it served as a starting point for an investigation that revealed the existence of at least nine confirmed cases of sexual exploitation of minors at the Rivera Girls’ Home, run by the Uruguayan Institute for Children and Adolescents (INAU).
A passion for teaching and a commitment to journalism
Tomer Urwicz is not only a journalist for El Observador, but also a professor and a graduate of Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Her background in journalism and her professional experience enabled her to address even the most complex issues with depth and sensitivity.
According to him, this investigation was not only a journalistic challenge, but also a human and emotional one.
“Seymour Hersh insists that the best way to tell a story, no matter how difficult or painful it may be, is to step aside and let the story speak for itself.”
He added that, to achieve this, it was necessary to convince his community of the importance of investing time and resources, and even to face potential local resistance: “We probably won’t be very welcome in Rivera’s hometown if we go back.”
Social and political impact
Beyond the media attention, the report had tangible consequences:“The news article led to a parliamentary inquiry into the authorities, the transfer of adolescent victims, and a scathing review by Uruguay’s National Human Rights Institution and Ombudsman’s Office that promises systemic change, ”Urwicz noted.
For him, this investigation captures the essence of investigative journalism:
By definition, investigative journalism seeks to uncover what those in power want to hide. It pulls back the curtain to shed light on the truth. And a society that is unaware of what is happening to it is incapable of progress.
A collaborative effort with a national perspective
Urwicz highlighted his collaboration with his colleague Carolina Delisa, whom he described as “the great Carolina Delisa,” and reflected on what he learned throughout the process: “The importance of teamwork and how the interior of the country remains more hidden than we realize from the comfort of the capital.”
When asked what this recognition means, he replied:
A real treat. The award is named after someone who taught at ORT several years ago—my own teacher—Marcelo Jelen. It honors a sharp and tenacious journalist, the author of one of the best essays on journalism (*Traficantes de realidad*).
He also emphasized the need for a more inclusive and ambitious national award that would serve as an incentive for both professionals and students.
Outreach and a message to the younger generations
With this professional milestone, Urwicz reaffirms his commitment to rigorous and impactful journalism:“Committing to more and better journalism,”he states as his goal for the future.
To those just starting out in the profession, he has a clear message:“Go for it! That’s what this thing we call ‘journalism’ is all about.”
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