WASHINGTON: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinnoy, Al Masri and other winners will be awarded the ICFJ Knight Journalism Award on November 9 at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner, all set to be hosted by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
On Nov. 9, we will honor @sharmeenochinoy & @KaramAlmasri25 with the @ICFJKnight International Journalism Award, https://t.co/79RNgTzoY7 pic.twitter.com/IZL5pu1p4J
— ICFJ (@ICFJ) October 23, 2017
Documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinnoy was one of the two recipients of the Knight International Journalism Award that were announced in Washington, DC on the 31st of May.
Obaid-Chinnoy’s decade-long career, which amounted to legislative changes within her home country, Pakistan, was recognized by the International Center for Journalists which also awarded Syrian photojournalist Karam Al-Masri for his work in photographing war-torn Aleppo.
“I began writing for newspapers in Pakistan when I was 14 years old and produced my first documentary film at the age of 21. Throughout my career I have strived to investigate stories that make people deeply uncomfortable, in the hope that they will spark conversations that will eventually lead to changes in attitudes,” said Obaid-Chinoy.
A two-time Oscar winner, she is best known for her 2015 documentary A Girl in the River, which shed light on the issue of honor killings in Pakistan, leading the parliament to pass a low on the criminalization of such heinous acts.
“At great personal risk, Obaid-Chinoy and Al Masri faced terrorism head-on, getting behind the scenes to chronicle untold abuses,” ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan stated.
The Knight International Journalism Award takes pride in recognizing media professionals who are passionate about outstanding reporting that makes all the difference.