The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) honored a range of journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers and digital content creators from across the Caribbean and the United States at its annual Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon, held as part of Caribbean Week in New York. The event, sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, highlighted exceptional work that has helped bring attention to the Caribbean’s culture, communities, natural environment and tourism sector, said a CTO press release.
Addressing attendees, CTO Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Dona Regis-Prosper emphasized the importance of storytelling in shaping how the region is understood internationally.
“Great storytelling has the power to transform perceptions and create deeper connections between people and destinations,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO’s secretary-general and CEO. “The individuals recognized through the Caribbean Media Awards are helping to tell a more complete story of our region — one that goes beyond beaches and resorts to showcase our people and heritage. Through thoughtful, impactful journalism, they are elevating Caribbean voices and bringing greater visibility to the stories that matter most.”
Awards were distributed across three main categories: Storytelling Excellence, Digital and Innovation, and Voices of the Caribbean. According to the CTO, this year’s submissions stood out for their originality, depth and focus on presenting authentic narratives that extend beyond conventional tourism promotion.
Among the recipients, Dana Givens received the Best Consumer Story award for the National Geographic feature, “Jamaica’s Greenest Parish Is Its Best-Kept Secret.” Christina Jelski of Travel Weekly was recognized with the Best Trade Article award for her interview with former Bahamas Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu.
In broadcasting, Ryan Bachoo of Guardian Media in Trinidad and Tobago earned the Best Podcast/Radio award for his report examining how sargassum affects tourism throughout the Caribbean. The Jamaica Tourist Board was also recognized for excellence in digital engagement, winning the Social Media Campaign award for its “Reggae Marathon 2025” promotional initiative.
The release said that the Voices of the Caribbean category recognized several notable productions and reports. Meschida Philip’s documentary, “Echoes of Waltham,” secured the top prize in Video Production, while Esther Jones of the Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network received the Best News Reporting award for her examination of the challenges of balancing cruise tourism development with marine conservation efforts in Barbados.
Ralph Thomassaint Joseph of Documented NY captured the Personal Immersive Story award for “Dancing Through Fear: A Haitian Performer Faces Deportation in New York,” a feature that explored the experiences of members of the Caribbean diaspora. Meanwhile, Miami Herald journalist Jacqueline Charles was named Diaspora Journalist of the Year for her coverage of Haiti. Luis Joel Méndez González of the Center for Investigative Journalism was recognized as Emerging Journalist of the Year for his investigative “Esencia” series.
Reportedly, the luncheon also served as the launch platform for CTO TV, a new digital video channel intended to broaden the organization’s storytelling capabilities. The platform will feature destination-focused content, interviews with industry leaders, policy discussions and other tourism-related programming. CTO TV will draw on a collection of more than 700 existing videos while also producing new content aimed at highlighting tourism development, innovation and regional partnerships throughout the Caribbean.
