Indonesian investigative reporter wins AFP’s 2013 Kate Webb prize

The international news agency AFP has awarded the 2013 Kate Webb prize for frontline journalism to Indonesian investigative reporter Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono for his reports on the civil war in Syria and his investigation into the Jakarta drug trade.

Pramono, 31, won the annual prize, for the exceptional series of stories and accompanying photos he produced while covering the war in Syria and for his daring undercover assignment into the notorious narcotics world of the Kampung Ambon district.

The award of the Kate Webb prize to Pramono, who works for Indonesia’s Tempo magazine, is the fourth since the launch of the award, which rewards locally-engaged Asian journalist for exceptional work produced while operating in dangerous or difficult circumstances.

“Investigative journalism is like opening a Pandora’s box and this country is a gold mine for investigative journalism,” Pramono said from Jakarta. 
“I am not a brave person, I was often in a cold sweat when I was in Syria and in west Jakarta (exposing the drugs den), but it is just something that I have to do.”

AFP’s Asia-Pacific Regional Director Gilles Campion said Pramono had shown great initiative and courage. “Pram is a young journalist who is clearly determined to uncover important stories, even if it means putting himself at risk of injury or attack,” he said. “I am delighted that such a worthy and enterprising reporter from the region has won the Kate Webb Prize.”

The prize is named after Kate Webb, one of the finest correspondents to have worked for AFP, who died in 2007 at the age of 64.