The Thomson Reuters Foundation(TRF) and the Kurt Schork memorial fund has announced three top international journalists as winners of the Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism. The three are; Shatha Hammad, Kyaw Ye Lynn, and Kenneth R. Rosen.
The Kurth Schork Awards honor brave journalists for their reporting on conflict, corruption, and injustice are announced today.
Palestinian journalist Shatha Hammad won the Local Reporter Award for her reporting from the West Bank. Taking great personal risks, which once resulted in her being hit in the face with a teargas canister, Hammad’s stories expose the impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians. The judges noted how
“We have seen what it costs Palestinian journalists to report, and Shatha has focused on giving a voice to those on the ground”.
This year’s News Fixer Award went to Kyaw Ye Lynn from Myanmar. In the wake of the military coup – and despite the junta’s tightened media restrictions for international reporters – Lynn worked in dangerous conditions to track down sources, verify the information and recommend story angles to international news outlets that were covering the unfolding events from afar. His courage, persistence, ingenuity, and skill were recognized by the judges, who praised Lynn for “helping the world to understand what happened in Myanmar after the February coup” as well as “the courage and resilience with which many of its people have responded”.
The News Fixer Award inspired by freelance journalist, author, and friend of Kurt Schork, Anna Husarska recognizes rarely credited yet often at-risk individuals who typically act as the foreign correspondent’s eyes and ears on the ground.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation says this award;
“pays tribute to the vital role that these unsung heroes play in coverage from difficult, dangerous, and hostile locations.”
American journalist Kenneth R. Rosen bagged the Kurt Schork Freelance Award.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation credited Rosen for traveling to the frontlines in Ukraine to shine a light on Russian cyber warfare, whilst also reporting on the control of oil resources in Syria and the inhumane treatment of migrants in Europe.
“The judges commended his courageous and balanced reporting, where he not only ferreted out new facts but gave essential context and depth”. TRF said in a statement.
Now in their 21st year, the Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism are named in honour of American freelance journalist Kurt Schork who was killed in Sierra Leone while on assignment for Reuters in 2000.
Notable finalists
The 2022 Local Reporter category finalists were Ibrahim Adeyemi (Nigeria), Dilan Hussein (Iraq) and Safwat Zargar (India).
The Freelance category finalists were Andrea Backhaus (Germany), Tetiana Bezruk (Ukraine), Simon Marks (Ireland), Neil Munshi (USA) and Kourosh Ziabari (Iran).
The 2022 News Fixer category finalists were Kareem Rasheed Sulaiman (Iraq), Anton Skyba (Ukraine), Mustafa Al-Ali (Syria) and Barzan Jabar (Iraq).
Prizes
The three winners will each receive a cash prize of US $5000 and will be spotlighted through a multimedia campaign on the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn).
The 2022 winners will also join those from 2021 in a panel discussion – moderated by CNN’s Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour CBE – at the Foundation’s flagship annual event, Trust Conference in London on the 26 & 27 October.
Past winners of the prestigious award include; Khabat Abbas from Syria who won the news fixer award in 2021, Rafael Soares from Brazil who won the local reporting award in 2021, Fisayo Soyombo from Nigeria who won the 2020 Kurt Schork Local Reporter Award Winner, and Kamiran Sadoun who won the News fixer award in 2020 among others
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