Venezuelans are familiar with hardship — and now, they are struggling to feed themselves. So an Associated Press team set out to report on the worsening food instability in the western state of Falcon.
Two things have increased dramatically since last year’s presidential election in Venezuela: inflation and repression. The latter makes reporting especially difficult.
People with key information about Venezuela’s food crisis — including individuals associated with local and international nongovernmental organizations — refused to speak, on or off the record. Even those already in exile feared for their safety.
Families in both rural and urban areas repeatedly declined interview requests. Many became visibly uncomfortable at the sight of a camera on the street. School personnel flagged journalists. In today’s Venezuela, anyone is treated with suspicion.
But with patience and a genuine interest in residents and their stories, AP’s team of reporter Regina Garcia Cano, photographer Ariana Cubillos and video journalist Juan Pablo Arraez earned the trust of parents, children, school personnel, priests, health care workers and others. Families put aside fear and shame to allow the AP into their homes, showing firsthand the everyday challenges of feeding themselves.
Brave teachers allowed AP into schools to document empty kitchens that should have been feeding students as required by law. Children described headaches, fainting spells and other consequences of poor nutrition. Parents shared stories of guilt for not being able to help their children.
The team told the story in all formats, offering a rare glimpse into these daily struggles.
Judges were impressed with the team’s tenacity in gaining access and with how the story framed the everyday effects of hunger and government policy.
Regina Garcia Cano, Ariana Cubillos and Juan Pablo Arraez earn this week’s Best of AP — Second Winner.
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