Excerpt from the 1960 Dateline for the award for THE ROBERT CAPA GOLD MEDAL AWARD:
THE ROBERT CAPA AWARD
Mario Biasetti
CBS Cameraman:
For Recording the Nicaragua Revolt From Both Sides At Great Risk
Mario Biasetti, “for superlative photography requiring exceptional courage and enterprise abroad,” is the winner of the Roberta Capa Award. A six-year veteran with CBS, the 31-year-old cameraman has captured this prize for his superb CBS News coverage of the abortive revel invasion of Nicaragua. The day after the rebels invaded the coast, Biasetti landed at Managua. Mingling with soldiers, Biasetti filmed government troop activity until he was arrested by military police. En route to headquarters, he turned his camera around and recorded himself in custody. During the subsequent two-hour grilling he also filmed the proceedings. After his release, Biasetti set off for the front, soon outdistancing the government troops. In mountainous jungle terrain, 150 miles from Managua, Biasetti made contact with the rebels. When informed by him of the size of the government detachment, the rebels quit.