Bournemouth University (BU) graduate, Drazen Jorgic has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contribution to a series of investigative articles on the international trade in the drug, fentanyl.
Drazen graduated from BU in 2008 after studying for a degree in Multimedia Journalism. Since graduating he has worked as a financial news journalist and later worked on organised crime and global issues.
‘Fentanyl Express: The global chemical trade behind America’s opioid crisis’ involved a team of reporters to help develop the series.
Drazen said: “I’m proud and honoured to have won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with my brilliant Reuters colleagues for our coverage of the fentanyl crisis. As someone who has spent years reporting on organised crime, I believe the fentanyl epidemic is one of the most urgent and devastating stories of our time. More than half a million Americans have likely died from fentanyl, while in Mexico the drug trade continues to sow chaos and violence. Our goal was to shed light on this global crisis, and I hope the work sparks change.”
Drazen’s former lecturer Dr Karen Fowler-Watt, Professor of Journalism & Global Narratives at BU said: “Drazen Jorgic is an outstanding journalist with a deep commitment to reporting marginalised voices and the Pulitzer awarded to his reporting team at Reuters is richly deserved. Draz has always been very generous in sharing his lived experience and good practice in journalism with our students at his alma mater, Bournemouth University. As a multimedia journalism student his energy and drive were clearly evident. He was never afraid to challenge himself. He continues to work tirelessly to tell difficult stories on the ground, making an important contribution to our understanding of global issues.”
Dr Roman Gerodimos, Professor of Global Current Affairs at BU said: “The multimedia journalism team at BU are delighted to hear that our graduate Drazen Jorgic and his team have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting for their brilliant coverage of the fentanyl crisis. Since graduating, Drazen has been working tirelessly with passion, commitment and integrity across a number of global current affairs around the world. We have been following his world-leading reporting at Reuters with deep pride, respect and admiration for the important insight, original reporting and empathetic storytelling that he has continued to produce."
The five-part series ‘Fentanyl Express: The global chemical trade behind America’s opioid crisis’ can be viewed online.
For further information about the courses in journalism please visit the BU website.
