More than 400 civic leaders, journalists and aid workers joined the cast and crew of the film “Balibo” at a gala. The event was sponsored by five Timorese journalism associations to raise money to provide computers and Internet access for regional reporters.

De Jesus, who was named Best Print Journalist, could not stop smiling as he told the crowd he would redouble his efforts to be worthy of the accolade. “This is a big challenge for me,” he said.

Almeida, winner of the Best Female Journalist award, said she was happy and proud to be chosen by a jury of local and international journalists. “After winning I hope I can do more to inspire other women journalists,” she said.

Both journalists won for their coverage of the 2007 presidential elections for the Timor Post newspaper. They are members of a team of journalists helping to teach Timor-Leste’s first university-level journalism course at the National University of Timor-Leste. The course is among the innovative projects under development by ICFJ, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality journalism worldwide.

Six other journalists were honored during the gala, including Nelson Filomeno Rego de Jesus of Radio Timor-Leste, who won Best Electronic Journalist for his story on child sexual abuse. Rego de Jesus went on to win the Balibo Five award, the evening’s top prize, for Reporter of the Year.

The award is named for five Australian journalists who were killed in the small border town of Balibo in 1975 by invading Indonesian soldiers. A sixth Australian journalist, Roger East, was investigating his colleagues’ deaths when he was shot to death by the invaders on the docks of Dili, the capital.

Actor Anthony La Paglia, the Australian star of the television drama “Without a Trace,” portrays East in “Balibo”, which is currently being shot in Australia and Timor-Leste. About 30 actors and crewmembers attended the awards dinner to support Timorese journalists.

“Journalism is vital in creating awareness, both locally and globally,” LaPaglia told the crowd. “At its best, it reveals the truth and exposes injustice, corruption and cruelty.” LaPaglia, who delighted the crowd by making a short speech in Tetun, the local language, praised the radio reporter for his hard-hitting story. “That kind of truth in journalism is what keeps society honest, and stops predators [from] being able to roam the world and take advantage of children who have no protection,” he said. “So it is important that these awards take place.... and that the craft and the art of journalism is encouraged and strives and builds in the country of Timor-Leste.”

The other honorees:

• Best Young Journalist, Oscar Salsinha, Suara Timor Lorosae • Best Investigative Journalist, Felizarda Alves, Radio Timor-Leste • Best Peace Journalist, Nuno Saldanha, Radio Timor-Leste • Best Feature Journalist, Antonio Febu da Silva, Radio Timor-Leste

Two Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Mario Jhony for photography, and to Zevonia Vieira for television feature.