Religion reporter Luis Andres Henao, Spain and Portugal chief photographer Emilio Morenatti, and freelance videographer James Brooks undertook AP’s first reporting trip to Greenland since President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. could take over the world’s largest island.
The team faced significant challenges in one of the most rugged places on Earth. On the first day, Brooks slipped on ice and broke his leg. From the hospital, he provided Henao and Morenatti with guidance on how to shoot video in his absence.
Greenlanders had grown weary of outside attention, but Henao and Morenatti spent time earning their trust. Through careful planning and long-distance outreach, they spoke with hunters, students, politicians, and one of Greenland’s most fervent Trump supporters.
The duo traveled by boat to capture images of abandoned fishing villages, snow-covered mountains, and melting sea ice. Morenatti then flew to a northern town to capture drone images of vast glaciers.
Their reporting also provided an intimate look at faith in Greenland, where most of the population is Indigenous Inuit and Lutheran. It included an exclusive interview with the bishop of Greenland’s Lutheran church.
The judges praised the team’s ability to highlight a wide variety of Greenlanders and their resourcefulness in capturing stunning photos and video. The package was published just before Trump, addressing Congress, doubled down on his threats to seize Greenland.
For a timely story that underscored AP’s values of teamwork and multiplatform journalism, Luis Andres Henao and Emilio Morenatti win this week’s Best of AP — Second Winner.
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