Ellen Nakashima, a journalist from The Washington Post specializing in intelligence and national security, will receive the Urbino Award of 2023. This award has been presented by the City of Urbino since 2006 to outstanding American journalists, strengthening its connection with Italy. The announcement was made by the Ambassador of Italy in Washington, Mariangela Zappia, during an event held at Villa Firenze for this occasion.
“A free press is an essential pillar for our societies and democracy. It sheds light on events and challenges we must face, serving as a shield against distortion and misinformation,” emphasized Ambassador Zappia while congratulating Urbino for recognizing and celebrating excellence in American journalism. The Ambassador then revealed the recipient’s name and highlighted key milestones in her professional journey, including three Pulitzer Prizes won in collaboration with colleagues at the prestigious newspaper. Among Ellen Nakashima’s distinctive qualities, the Ambassador emphasized her ability to delve into highly technical subjects that bridge technology, intelligence, and both domestic and foreign politics, while also addressing their broader social, political, and economic implications.
This year, the Urbino Award, supported by the Center for American Studies (Centro Studi Americani), will be presented to Ellen Nakashima in the historic Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) of the city in the Marche region on September 27th, in keeping with tradition.
The announcement event in Washington featured Giovanni Lani and Gabriele Cavalera, the founder and secretary-general of the Urbino Award, as well as the city’s Tourism Assessor, Roberto Cioppi. The event was attended by officials from the U.S. administration, some of the previous award recipients, including Diane Rehm, Martha Raddatz, Wolf Blitzer, Helene Cooper, Mark Mazzetti, Michael Weisskopf, among others, as well as distinguished Italian and American journalists.
During the evening at Villa Firenze, Ellen Nakashima was interviewed by journalist Mark Mazzetti, an investigative correspondent for The New York Times, who himself received the Urbino Award in 2016 and had previously worked with the 2023 awardee.
For more information about the award, please visit the following link: https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/news/sala-stampa/urbino-award/
