JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 28, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD - Six journalists representing four local, national, and international news organizations won top honors at the inaugural Pakistan Data Journalism Awards organized by Media Matters for Democracy.
The winners include Swat-based journalist Niaz Ahmad Khan, Alia Chughtai and Asad Hashim of Al Jazeera English, Ramsha Jahangir of Dawn, former Express Tribune reporter Riazul Haq, and former Samaa Digital journalist Hisham Sajid.
The awards were distributed at a ceremony in Islamabad Thursday.
The contest received 76 entries from journalists representing different types of media, including print and digital, and various publications from all over Pakistan.
The contest jury comprised media strategist Sahar Habib Ghazi, broadcast journalists Amber Rahim Shamsi and Hamid Mir, and Media Matters for Democracy co-founders Asad Baig and Sadaf Khan.
In his keynote address, jury member Hamid Mir said the quality of journalism had seen a downfall in recent years, which has led to a crisis of credibility among the journalists and the public. He said data and investigative reporting needs to be encouraged to improve the quality of journalism in the country.
Mir distributed awards and book prizes among the winners.
The Best News Investigation of the Year award went to journalist Niaz Ahmad Khan for an investigative report exposing the police tactics to misreport cases of honor killings in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Alia Chughtai and Asad Hashim of Al Jazeera English received the award for Best Data Visualization for News for their collaborative work on a series of interactive visualizations about Pakistan's 2018 general elections. Ms. Chughtai is a Senior Producer Interactive, and Hashim is the Al Jazeera English online correspondent in Pakistan.
Commenting on the visualizations, jury member Ms. Ghazi said the 2018 elections in Pakistan was a time of massive misinformation and disinformation and citizens were flooded with manipulated memes and decontextualized video clips on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.
“At a time where it became difficult to sift through overwhelming false or misleading data, Alia Chughtai and Asad Hashim's well-sourced data-driven visual reporting offered easy-to-understand and much needed credible analysis,” she said.
Ramsha Jahangir of Dawn won the awards for Best Use of Data in a News Report or Series and Best Data Journalist Portfolio (Print) for her in-depth and tenacious coverage of online freedom of expression issues, social media regulation, and the manipulation of social media conversations by political parties.
Ms. Ghazi said the stories showcased Ramsha's skill at unwrapping data in the narrative form.
“Her consistent devotion to making digital rights understandable to citizens and policy-makers, through print and digital, makes Ramsha's journalistic skill much-needed in Pakistan,” she said. “Pakistan's Internet clampdown, not only offered us key data on crucial under-scrutinized events, but it also crafted in-depth insight about our digital censorship reality.”
Riazul Haq (pictured) won the award for Best Use of Data in a News Report (Online), a reporter who previously worked for The Express Tribune. Haq’s multimedia story dealt with human trafficking from Punjab to European countries. The story was produced by Shaheryar Popalzai and carried illustrations by Saadat Ali and Ibrahim Yahya.
Haq, who now works for Hum News, used data from the Federal Investigation Agency, Supreme Court of Pakistan, and European Border Control to show the extent of the human trafficking trade. He used accounts of human smugglers and people deported for illegal immigration to humanize his data-driven report.
Hisham Sajid won the Pakistan Data Journalism Award in the Best Data Journalist Portfolio (Online) category for his stories on elections and economic activity for Samaa TV’s news website. The jury stated that Sajid’s stories showed the ability to use data to test popular misconceptions and myths and explain the findings for a layman audience.
The awards committee also presented an honorable mention trophy to Khalid Khattak, The News journalist and founder of the online data journalism website Data Stories for his consistent efforts towards promotion of data-driven news reporting in Pakistan.
Asim Bashir Khan, an economist and freelance writer, was also awarded an honorable mention for his data analysis and commentary on Pakistan’s economic situation.
Sadaf Khan, Director Programs of Media Matters for Democracy and jury member, said the awards contest is an effort to encourage evidence-based investigative reporting in the country.
“We hope to recognize the work of local journalists who are using data and documents to highlight issues of public importance and bring accountability and transparency in governance,” Ms. Khan said. “I am confident that the award-winning stories will also inspire other reporters and editors to use data more effectively in their news coverage.”
Photo: Riazul Haq - Facebook
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.