Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill was awarded the second annual Izzy Award by the Park Center for Independent Media at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Emerson Suites.

Scahill, the author of “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army,” was presented the award from his collective 2009 body of work that brought the issue of military contractor and mercenary abuses to the mainstream media.

Scahill, who spoke at Ithaca College last year, is a regular commentator on human rights for independent media outlets including Alternet, Democracy Now!, The Huffington Post and The Nation. Scahill also writes for his own personal blog, Rebel Reports.

The Izzy was presented to blogger Glenn Greenwald and Democracy Now! executive producer Amy Goodman last year and is named in honor of late independent journalist I.F. Stone.

The awards ceremony began after 7:30 p.m. when Park School of Communications Dean Diane Gayeski introduced herself to the nearly filled room and applauded the work the Park Center for Independent Media has done for the college.

“[The Park Center for Independent Media] has had a major impact on the Park School, Ithaca College and the Ithaca community,” Gayeski said.

Jeff Cohen, associate professor and director of the Park Center, then spoke on the history of the Izzy Award.

“Our award has come a long way since a year ago,” Cohen said. “We received dozens upon dozens of nominations and this has shown the powerful independent journalism that has been produced both nationally and locally.”

Cohen said the decision to award Scahill the Izzy was because of his investigative journalism.

“[Scahill] is one independent journalists whose work rose above and apart,” Cohen said.

A video collage of Scahill’s appearances on “Bill Moyers Journal,” “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” was shown before Cohen presented the award plaque to Scahill.

“I am deeply, deeply humbled by this award,” Scahill said.

After praising Cohen and Park Center of Independent Media, Scahill gave his views on the current state of journalism.

“We are living in a time in need of political, moral and journalistic courage,” Scahill said. “[Member of the mainstream media] are posing as spokesmen for the [Obama] administration when they should be journalists.”

Scahill said the key to prosperous independent journalism is a mix of new and old concepts.

“What is important in this new media environment is if we loose old-school tradition we will lose the battle,” Scahill said.   

Scahill furthered his acceptance speech by criticizing political polices established under the George W. Bush administration that have been continued by the Obama administration.

Scahill then spoke of his own personal experiences as an independent investigative journalist with Democracy Now! and said it has never been an easy profession.

“If you want to make no money and work really hard, the thing to do is become an independent journalist,” he said.

Though Scahill mockingly gave a bleak outlook on in the industry, he said students who are politically minded should become involved, as there are actual opportunities for new and thoughtful voices.  

“The internet has given a new forum for independent journalists to put their messages out there,” Scahill said. “Journalism should be a working person’s job.”

Scahill concluded his speech by beginning a dialogue with audience members that ranged on topics including Latin American foreign policy, government conflicts of interests, youth political involvement and personal reflections the reinstatement of a draft.

Matt Mogekwu, associate professor and chair of the journalism department, said by bringing speakers from various career backgrounds is important to not only journalism students, but also the entire campus community.

“It is always good to have both types of speakers,” Mogekwu said. “I think having one perspective, no matter how good it is, does not paint a picture of the whole system. As much as I stand for independent journalism, it would be unfair not to expose students… to another side.”

Sophomore journalism major Chris Zivalich said he attended Scahill’s speech out of interest and thought it was not only informative but also inspirational.

“Overall, he was an inspiration to people like myself who consider themselves aspiring independent journalist,” Zivalich said. “As [Scahill] described, it is very difficult for people to work outside the realm of corporate media, but he provided some pathways to get involved.”