Somaiyah Hafeez, a journalist and writer from Balochistan, Pakistan, stands out for her commitment to telling the stories of overlooked communities in her region. Known for her work on human rights and climate change, Somaiyah's storytelling brings vital attention to struggles that might otherwise remain hidden. She is one of three finalists in the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist of the Year competition.
Somaiyah explains that her motivation for entering journalism came from a deep recognition of the stories in Balochistan that needed to be preserved and shared.
There are very few journalists from Balochistan, especially women, she says. It's a region with a lot of stories, stories that must be told and written down in history. It would be a great injustice if they weren't.
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Somaiyah's work is known for its human impact, bringing a voice to those in some of Pakistan's most marginalised areas.
One of the stories submitted for the Young Journalist Award is a data-driven investigation on enforced disappearances in Balochistan where there is an ongoing conflict between Baloch separatists and government. Another explores the lives of the Afghan refugees forced to flee Pakistan, and the third is a report on community-led housing initiatives following devastating floods in 2022.
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.
Among her achievements, Somaiyah's coverage on food insecurity in Pakistan following the economic crisis and 2022 floods won the ICRC-CEJ Humanitarian Reporting Award in 2023. Her stories have appeared in high-profile publications, including The Guardian, New Lines Magazine, The Diplomat, and The New Humanitarian, where her reporting continues to underscore issues affecting those deliberately silenced and preferably unheard.
She is currently pursuing a masters in data journalism at Columbia University in New York, strengthening her skills to continue amplifying these voices.
It is an honour to be shortlisted- stories on vulnerable communities are not easy to report on but they are important stories, stories that must be told, she reflects. Having them recognised not only further highlights the urgency to report them but also strengthens my resolve to continue pursuing reporting on these challenging topics.
Young Journalist of the Year The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award is open to journalists aged 30 and under from countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than US$20,000. The annual competition is organised in partnership with the UK's Foreign Press Association (FPA). This year's winner will be announced at the FPA's Media Awards on 25th November in London.
More on the competition
Meet the Young Journalist Finalists 2024
Shortlist Young Journalist Award 2024
Yara El Murr: A year on from winning the Young Journalist Award
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Somaiyah Hafeez, a journalist and writer from Balochistan, Pakistan, stands out for her commitment to telling the stories of overlooked communities in her region. Known for her work on human rights and climate change, Somaiyah's storytelling brings vital attention to struggles that might otherwise remain hidden. She is one of three finalists in the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist of the Year competition.
