Awards for Somali, Afghan journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 23 May 2012

ICFJ has announced Kassim Mohamed and Sami Mahdi as the 2012 Knight International Journalism Award winners in Washington. Mohamed reported on Somali piracy and lawlessness, while Mahdi’s broadcasts highlighted violence against women and expanded public debate in Afghanistan.

Summary

WASHINGTON: A Kenyan journalist investigating the Somali pirates and an Afghan broadcaster exposing violence against women will receive the 2012 Knight International Journalism Awards in Washington, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) announced. The award recognizes excellent reporting that makes a difference in the lives of people around the world.

The winners of this year's award, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, will be honored at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner on November 13. Kassim Mohamed is an investigative reporter covering Kenya and Somalia, a nation plagued by lawlessness and piracy.

He has chronicled the ensuing chaos in great detail—and at great personal risk —for the Nairobi-based Star FM radio station and The Star newspaper. Afghan broadcaster Sami Mahdi has revolutionized Afghanistan’s media landscape. In a country where the Taliban once starved people of information, Mahdi is one of the most reliable sources of news.

More than that, he has engaged Afghans in a way no other newscaster has.

As the director of news and current affairs at 1TV, Afghanistan’s fastest-growing independent news station, he has pioneered programs such as “Kabul Debate Live,” a televised town hall meeting. See more here:http://www.icfj.org/news/reporters-exposing-somali-pirates-and-domestic-violence-afghanistan-receive-prestigious-journal

KEY POINTS:

• ICFJ announced the 2012 Knight International Journalism Award winners in Washington.
• Kassim Mohamed was honored for investigative reporting on Somali piracy and instability.
• Sami Mahdi was recognized for broadcasting that exposed violence against women in Afghanistan.
• The winners will be honored at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner on November 13.
• The awards are sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.