Catalina Gómez Ángel wins Gabo Excellence Award, warns of influencers in war reporting

Catalina Gómez Ángel, a Colombian journalist covering conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere, received the Gabo Recognition for Excellence on July 24, 2026, at the 14th Festival Gabo in Bogotá. The award, given by the Fundación Gabo, honors her “valentía, independencia y rigor narrativo al cubrir algunos de los conflictos más complejos del mundo contemporáneo desde una mirada latinoamericana.” Source: Milenio

Her view on war journalism

Gómez Ángel argues that war reporting must extend beyond battles to show how conflict transforms entire societies. “La guerra trasciende toda la sociedad, desde el campo de la salud, de la educación, las maestras, las enfermeras… Lo que no entendemos es que cubrir una guerra es cubrir un país en conflicto,” she said in a panel. Source: Infobae She emphasized understanding the personal stories behind statistics, noting that numbers “han dejado de tener un significado” without knowing the people affected. Source: Milenio

Influencers vs. journalists

During the award ceremony, she criticized a growing trend: “En las guerras, los gobiernos acreditan antes a influencers, que jalean sus decisiones, que a periodistas, que les hacemos preguntas.” Source: La Vanguardia This reflects a broader challenge for independent journalism in conflict zones. She also shared the emotional toll, confessing she has unpublished stories, including the attack on Kramatorsk station that killed Ukrainian journalist Victoria Amelina. Source: Infobae

• More women in war reporting: Gómez Ángel noted that women now make up 60–65% of journalists in conflicts like Ukraine, and they tend to stay longer.