Alumna, board member honored with University’s Distinguished Alumna Award for contributions to humanity
October 30, 2015
UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media alumna Jacqueline Charles was honored Oct. 12, 2015, with the University’s Distinguished Alumna Award, given annually on University Day to recognize Tar Heels who have made outstanding contributions to humanity. Charles, who serves on the school’s board of advisers, is the Caribbean correspondent and senior Haiti reporter for the Miami Herald.
She has covered the politics, culture and people of Haiti and other island nations for nearly 20 years. During that time, she has developed a reputation for stories that educate and inspire change.
After Haiti’s devastating earthquake in January 2010, Charles was the first journalist to report on the fate of President René Préval. There were rumors that his home had been destroyed and it was not certain whether he was still alive. Through her longstanding connections in Haiti, Charles was able to reach Préval, and she told him that she was trying to fly into Haiti but could not get permission to do so. He gave it, and she broke the story that Préval had survived the natural disaster, having fled with only one white shirt that he washed every day so as to maintain the dignity of the presidential office.
Charles has been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and has twice been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists: in 2010 as International Reporter of the Year and in 2011 as Journalist of the Year. Charles co-produced a documentary on Haiti, Nou Bouke, which won a 2011 regional Emmy Award.