CTO honors journalistic excellence at annual Caribbean Media Awards in New York | News
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrated leading storytellers, broadcasters and digital creators from the US and the Caribbean at the annual Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon, a signature event of Caribbean Week in New York. The luncheon, sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, honored outstanding journalism and content creation that spotlights the people, culture, environment and evolving tourism landscape of the Caribbean.
“Great storytelling has the power to transform perceptions and create deeper connections between people and destinations,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General and CEO of CTO. “The individuals recognized by the Caribbean Media Awards help tell a more complete story about our region – one that goes beyond beaches and resorts to showcase our people and heritage. Through thoughtful, impactful journalism, they elevate Caribbean voices and bring greater visibility to the stories that matter most.”
Awards were presented in three categories: Storytelling Excellence, Digital and Innovation, and Voices of the Caribbean. CTO praised this year’s entries for their depth, originality and commitment to authentic storytelling that goes beyond traditional destination promotion.
Among the winners, Dana Givens earned Best Consumer Story for “Jamaica’s Greenest Parish Is Its Best Kept Secret” in National Geographic, while Travel Weekly’s Christina Jelski received Best Trade Story for her interview with former Bahamas Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu. Ryan Bachoo of Guardian Media in Trinidad & Tobago won the Best Podcast/Radio award for his research into the impact of sargassum on Caribbean tourism, and the Jamaica Tourist Board won the Social Media Campaign award for its ‘Reggae Marathon 2025’ campaign.
In the Voices of the Caribbean category, Meschida Philip’s documentary ‘Echoes of Waltham’ received the highest award in video production, while Esther Jones of the Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network won the award for best news reporting for her investigation into the balance between cruise tourism and maritime protection in Barbados.
The Personal Immersive Story award went to Ralph Thomassaint Joseph of Documented NY for “Dancing Through Fear: A Haitian Performer Faces Deportation in New York,” praised for its compelling portrayal of the Caribbean diaspora experience. Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald was named Diaspora Journalist of the Year for her reporting on Haiti, while Luis Joel Méndez González of the Center for Investigative Journalism received the Emerging Journalist of the Year award for the investigative series “Esencia.”
The luncheon also marked the official launch of CTO TV, a new digital platform designed to expand the organization’s reach through video stories, leadership interviews, policy discussions and destination content. The platform will leverage an existing library of more than 700 videos while creating new opportunities to showcase Caribbean tourism, innovation and regional cooperation.
