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.
Reporter, The Afghan Times - Young Journalist of the Year 2024 Salma Niazi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times, commented:
We are deeply honoured by this recognition of our reporters 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.
Meet the Young Journalist Finalists 2024
Shortlist Young Journalist Award 2024
Yara El Murr: A year on from winning the Young Journalist Award
-- Explore our projects across the globe
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...
25/11/2025
Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025.
The 26-year-old-sele...
25/11/2025
SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...
25/11/2025
Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...
25/11/2025
Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10
Print This Story
With KSI on...
25/11/2025
Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...
25/11/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlig...
A woman journalist from Afghanistan has been named Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist of the Year 2024.
