Afghan Reporter Wins Young Journalist of the Year 2024
A woman journalist from Afghanistan has been named Thomson Foundation’s Young Journalist of the Year 2024.
The journalist, who we are not naming for her own safety, is forced to work in secret because of the severe restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban. She reports for The Afghan Times, a platform founded by Afghan women journalists and now run by journalists in exile in Dublin.
The judges commended the journalist’s courageous reporting on the lives of Afghan women under Taliban rule, including her investigation into the forced closure of women-only restaurants, one of the few remaining spaces where women could work or socialise.
The reporter was unable to attend the Foreign Press Association’s Media Awards ceremony in London due to the restrictions on women travelling in Afghanistan. Instead, an audio recording of her acceptance speech was played.
In it she remarked:
"This award is a reminder that our efforts are seen and valued, even when it feels like we’re fighting in the dark. Journalism in Afghanistan has become not just a profession but a mission — one to keep truth alive and give a voice to those who are often silenced. I accept this award on behalf of all the courageous journalists in Afghanistan who continue to report, despite the risks and restrictions we face every day."
Journalism in Afghanistan has become not just a profession but a mission.
Salma Niazi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times, commented:
"We are deeply honoured by this recognition of our reporter's work, and we dedicate it to all our brave sisters at The Afghan Times who continue to risk their lives every day to tell the truth from inside Afghanistan. Despite the growing threats, censorship, and the severe restrictions on freedom of expression, these courageous women persist, reporting on the realities of our country with integrity and resilience."
Honouring Courageous Reporting
The other two finalists, Somaiyah Hafeez and Aisha Farrukh, both from Pakistan, were celebrated for their outstanding work.
Somaiyah Hafeez, a 24-year-old freelance journalist, was recognised for her data-driven investigation on enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where there is an ongoing conflict between Baloch separatists and government. “Being a finalist for the Young Journalist Award by the Thomson Foundation is not only about my work being recognised, but the struggle and the resistance of the communities that I cover being recognised and amplified,” Somaiyah says. “This is ultimately why I became a journalist.”
Aisha Farrukh, 28, is the head of content at The Centrum Media, an independent digital news network. Her documentary on bonded labourers working in Pakistan’s brick kilns exposed exploitative practices, including the illegal removal of a teenager’s kidney to settle a family debt. “I feel extremely honoured to be a finalist for this prestigious award,” she says. “I hope to set an example for aspiring journalists, especially young women, to come forward and share their stories with the world.”
Recognising the Impact of Journalism
All three finalists share a commitment to amplifying the voices of their lol communities through investigative reporting.
"These journalists exemplify the bravery and skill required to uncover hidden truths and hold power to account," says Deborah Kelly, Director of Training and Communications at Thomson Foundation. "Their dedication to local journalism not only informs their communities but connects their struggles to a global audience."
About the Young Journalist Award
Now in its twelfth year, the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award is a prestigious annual competition run in partnership with the UK’s Foreign Press Association (FPA). It is open to journalists aged 30 and under from countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than USD 20,000. This year’s competition attracted 825 stories from 275 candidates across 64 countries.
