YouTube and the Pulitzer Center will give a $10,000 grant to an aspiring journalist to cover and "issue of global importance".

MSNBC.com reports that YouTube and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting have teamed up to award an aspiring journalist a grant to cover an “issue of global importance.” The winner of Project: Report’s $10,000 grant is Arturo Perez, Jr. of San Francisco, California. “Hundreds of people from around the world entered the first of its kind program that called on aspiring journalists to produce short, high quality video pieces focused on stories that are not typically covered by the traditional media,” MSNBC.com reports.

Citizen journalists are mainstream media’s strongest competition. This grant is a sign that high profile organizations like the Pulitzer Center recognize the significance of citizen journalism, and the ability of non-professionals to shed light on important issues.

MSNBC quoted Perez: “I definitely feel like we are a part of building the future of journalism: if you see a story, you now have the opportunity to report on it.” His winning video, on the community of Camphill, California, is available at www.youtube.com/projectreport.

In a statement, Steve Grove, head of news and politics for YouTube, siad, “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the results of our first ever journalism competition. Like thousands of others around the globe, these talented reporters are using new media to broadcast stories from their communities to the world. They are the next generation of journalists.”

 The Pulitzer Center article “A DC Celebration for Project: Report” tells more about the awards ceremony for the 10 finalists and about the project in general.