Ten Wins, Four Mentions; GBM’s News Teams Deliver at CBU

It was a night of celebration, recognition, and pride for Caribbean journalism. The Thirty-Sixth CBU Media Awards lit up Wednesday evening with powerful storytelling and standout reporting from across the region. And guess what? Greater Belize Media made a big splash. While RJRGleaner led the pack with the most wins, Belize, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago all had their moment in the spotlight. In total, fifty-two awards were handed out, but what exactly did GBM walk away with? Paul Lopez takes us behind the scenes to meet the faces behind the accolades.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It was a proud night for Belize at the Thirty-Sixth Caribbean Broadcasting Union Media Awards in Barbados. Greater Belize Media walked away with a total of ten awards and four special mentions, shining in both digital and television categories. And here’s the exciting part, two of those wins and all four mentions came from GBM’s newest team, the Digital Department. Led by Digital Editor Hipolito Novelo, with Creative Digital Content Assistant Benita Keme-Palacio by his side, this dynamic duo is already leaving an indelible mark on the media. Their fresh approach to storytelling is clearly turning heads across the region.

 

Hipolito Novelo, Digital Editor, GBM

“We are very excited for this award, for the award we got last night at the CBU. Since creating our department, the digital department, we wanted to win an award. So, we won our first digital award last night for GBM. If I wanted to win that particular award it would have been with Jair. He is an inspirational young boy; a gold medalist and I am glad judges saw that it was best for best sports digital.”

 

Benita Keme Palacio, Creative Digital Content Assistant, GBM

“Over the past few months, I have learned, experienced and grown a lot in the Digital Department. So it means a great deal to receive a recognition for special mention at a regional level especially at the CBU for all the time I put into a story that represents Belizean culture and identity.”

 

In the advertising category, GBM received an award for Best Commercial for Channel Five’s 2024 Christmas Card.

 

Monilee Aspinall, Assistant Producer, GBM

“When we had finally put it together and I listen to it, it became an earworm around the office and even for people on the street or at school for me. So I am happy I was able to contribute to something that brought so much joy around the office and also contributed to celebrating.”

 

The News Department racked up seven big wins in top TV categories, including Best News Story,  Investigative Reporting, and the Child Rights Champion award. Rising star Britney Gordon, the youngest on the team, took home two awards. One was for her powerful piece on ending child marriage in Belize, shot with Joel Westby. The other? A heartwarming story about a fifteen-year-old future politician, filmed with Kenroy Michael.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporter, GBM

“One of the stories, particularly the one about ending child marriage in Belize. I was especially proud of that because it was a story I put a lot of effort into and it was one of the earlier stories that I remember coming home and watching it with my parents, really excited and telling them I did a lot of work on this one and I hope my company can see the work put in on that and to see it recognized on that regional stage really is humbling and special to me.”

 

Joel Westby had a standout night, earning four awards for his work on four different stories. Whether behind the camera or in the field, his storytelling skills helped bring powerful pieces to life and clearly impressed the judges.

 

Joel Westby, Videographer, GBM

“I just want to say how grateful I am to be recognized not for one but four CBU awards. Well all you have to do is try and if you don’t succeed then try again. I just want to thank Rick because he is the one that always lends his support and push me. So, thanks Rick.”

 

Anchor Sabreena Daly secured her first CBU award, this one in the Child Rights Champion, Elimination of Violence Against Children category. Daly and cameraman Kenroy Michael were awarded for their Bright Side story on how Toledo Community College is fighting against bullies.

 

Sabreena Daly, Anchor, GBM

“I wanted to tell stories that came from a place of adversity to inspire our viewers. Often times you would hear people say I don’t watch the news, its only terrible things happening. And so it was really important to tell stories that inspire people and tell stories that inspire people and encourage people to want to watch the news and find good news as well.”

 

In just my third year competing at the CBU Awards as a reporter, I was thrilled to bring home four wins. From Best Investigative and Best News Story to Financial Literacy Journalism and Land Degradation Neutrality, each one tells a story that matters. I couldn’t have done it without the incredible teamwork of Joel Westby, George Tillett, and Kenroy Michael.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporter, GBM

“At the end of the day it is about impact, and we go into these stories, like this one with the retired public officers understanding that the heart of the issue is about people, what people are going through and experiencing. So, while it might have been an average, another day story, this was not for people on the ground, the subject of the story, this was not just another day, this was a fight for their lives.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.