Dominican journalist, Sharome Burton, has won the prestigious Steve Parry Award for the best young reporter at the 3rd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Reporters Programme in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He beat 35 other hand-picked outstanding young journalists from around the world who took part in the three-week programme which ran alongside the Youth Olympic Games.
A journalist at state-owned DBS Radio, Burton said the feeling after winning the award was ‘unimaginable.’
“I mean to be awarded this trophy in the namesake of Stephen Parry, one of the pioneers in Olympic broadcasting and sports journalism, is an immense honor,” he said. “I never imagined I would be at this stage, at the Youth Olympic, or being part of this programme. So it’s been really a massive, massive surprise to me to hear my name called up for that award.”
He described the programme as a ‘great learning experience’ which was very intense in foreign conditions and languages.
Burton said the scale of what he was doing at the programme was a far cry from what he was doing in Dominica.
“But I can say it’s been a great experience which can only serve me well going forward …” he stated.
He promised better things in his field in the future.
“It’s not just about being here, going through this and just leaving it pass you, leaving it in the past,” he said.
Burton, 22, was among the first graduate from a Mass Communication program at the Dominica State College. After that, he volunteered at DBS and was eventually fully employed at the station.
The Steve Parry Award was named after the former global sports editor of Reuters.
Well done Sharome.
Congrats young man and continue to shine
Way to go bro! Keep up the great work! You made us very proud ❤❤
Congratulations to you. Keep making Dominica proud.
This is an award truly and aptly deserving of a motorcade and fanfare. This young man worked for this recognition.
Hats off my son. Congratulations are truly in order.
Congratulations. He was so quiet before. I am proud of your progress. Mr. B must be real proud.
I am so very proud of my past student! Sharome performed excellently in ALL of his Mass Communication courses at DSC, so this is really not a surprise to me. I am indeed proud, and the best is yet to come! Keep shining Sharome!!
Will he get a motorcade and welcome ceremony?
This is what we should be celebrating, not an ornamental degree.
Congrats Sharmoe!
Well done Sharmoe
Wow!! Congratulations bro. Dominica is proud of you
Congratulations to the young gentleman. These are the things we should be celebrating.
Making his parents proud once again.
Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations Sharome!!!!. I remember him from college. Extremely bright guy and very well spoken. Continue to excel!
congrats my darling – enjoy this milestone
Congratulations to the young man. I had the privilege to be interviewed by him while he was studying at DSC for a research project. I was utterly impressed with his professionalism at such a tender age. Well done and good luck in your professional career.