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Newsday reporter wins 'Oz' award

April 6, 2006

The Asia Society has awarded its fourth Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Asian Journalism to Newsday reporter Matthew McAllester for his series entitled "Nepal: a country on the brink."

McAllester shares the award with Barbara Demick of the Los Angeles Times, who wrote about the reality of daily life in impoverished and isolated North Korea.

Norman Pearlstine, senior adviser to Time Warner, former editor-in-chief of Time Inc. and chair of the independent jury that oversaw the prize selection, will present the winners with the $10,000 award, which they will share, in New York City on May 15. He praised both reporters for making difficult topics accessible to new readers and providing new insights to experts.

"To say that North Korea and Nepal are countries that pose immense challenges to reporters is an understatement," he said.

McAllester wrote his report last summer after spending a month traveling in Nepal, sometimes on foot, with staff photojournalist Moises Saman. The Newsday series highlighted the human rights problems plaguing Nepal, headed by a despotic ruler threatened by a strong Maoist insurgency many predict is on the verge of taking power. McAllester told the stories of the Maoists' use of forced and child labor, the widespread disappearance of citizens and the emergence of well-armed vigilante groups that have formed to defend themselves against the rebels.

The "Oz Prize" honors legendary journalist and author Osborn Elliott, former editor-in-chief of Newsweek.