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Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, who writes a blog about life in Cuba, has received one of Spain's major journalism awards, the Ortega and Gasset prize for digital journalism.

Spanish newspaper El Pais, which gives out the award annually, said Sanchez won it for her "shrewdness" in overcoming obstacles for freedom of expression in Cuba, her "vivacious" style and her enthusiasm to join the "global space of citizen journalism."

Yoani Sanchez
(Photo Credit: Generacion Y)

Her blog "Generacion Y" is the most popular in Cuba, it received 1.2 million visitors in February.

"This is great encouragement for Cuban bloggers who are still at an embryonic stage," she told Reuters by telephone from her home in Havana. "It recognizes that Cuban blogs can be a parallel source of information, reflection and opinions independent from Cuba's official media," the 32-year-old philologist said.

Sanchez said she started her blog to "let out frustrations," and write about the Cuba that does not get covered by the government controlled media. Last month the Cuban government blocked access to blog inside Cuba. Sanchez remained defiant and found a way around the Communist censors.