Monday, October 22, 2012
AFP photojournalist Aris Messinis was awarded the Photography prize for war correspondents, at the 19th Bayeux-Calvados meeting that took place on October 8-14, for his coverage of the Battle of Sirte in Libya, last October. "His photos were taken while the National Transitional Council forces launched their final assault on the last pockets of Gaddafi loyalists, a few days before the dictator's death," says AFP in a statement.
Aris Messinis, 35, has been chief photographer for AFP in Greece since 2006. He worked in Libya and Egypt during the "Arab Spring" and has won many prestigious awards such as Days Japan 2012, Fotoweek 2011, and NPPA.
Created in 1994, the Bayeux-Calvados Awards for War Correspondents reward journalists reporting on conflicts and their consequences for civilian populations, or news stories covering the defense of freedom and democracy.
A total of 54 reports entered the competition across different categories: radio, photo, print, TV, long-format TV, young reporter award and web journalism.
