Jens Lohmann, chairman of the board of Nairobiklubben, presenting the Nairobi Prize 2008  - an old-fashioned typewriter - at the official presentation. Photo Lotte Dahlmann/IMS

International Media Support has been awarded the "Nairobi Prize 2008" for its work to ensure access to independent media for the poorest people of the world. The prize was presented to IMS by the Danish association of journalists and communicators covering development issues in developing countries, "Nairobiklubben" at the association's annual congress on 6 November

In the nomination by Nairobiklubben, IMS was praised for its work to improve conditions for people locally in countries affected by conflict or instability to get access to reliable information and to media through which they may voice their views publicly. Furthermore the nomination stressed the operational focus of IMS:

" IMS is working to fill the vacuum that appears in the international support to media during the transition period between conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as in situations where conflict may break out. It is a vacuum filled by noone else. IMS works rapidly and efficiently without making a fuzz about its achievements(..)"

This year's Nairobi Prize was a typewriter of the kind which would previously be referred to as a light-weight 'travel' typewriter, which not even remotely resembles light-weight equipment of correspondents of today. Thomas Hughes, IMS deputy director, received the prize on behalf of Jesper Højberg who could not be present at the ceremony.

By using cell phone linked to mobile loudspeakers, Jesper Højberg did, however defy the barriers of distance to address Nairobiklubben. In his speech, Jesper Højberg expressed high appreciation for the nomination and the prize, saying:

- We are particularly proud to receive this reward, as it is given by fellow-professionals in the media world, and so we regard it as one of the highest tokens of professional respect for the work that we do in IMS.

In 2007, Africa correspondent for the Danish daily, Politiken, Jesper Strudsholm, received the award. Previous recipients of the Nairobi Prize include Amnesty International, Operation Dagsværk and the Danish website for development news, U-landsnyt.dk.