The three finalists for the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year 2023 enjoyed an action-packed trip to London which included meeting the Queen, visits to the BBC, Channel 4 and The Guardian and the chance to sample some British pub grub.
Runner-up in the competition, Jamaima Afridi from Pakistan described the trip as the most productive days ever'. Along with her fellow runner-up, Zuha Siddiqui from Pakistan and winner Yara El Murr from Lebanon, the trio got inside tips on how to pitch stories, made some invaluable contacts and in the process became firm friends.
Meeting Her Majesty The Queen
Making headlines The three journalists were able to experience first-hand how UK newsrooms are coping with the enormous pressures of trying to comprehensively cover international events like the Israel-Gaza war and the conflict in Ukraine as well as the British domestic agenda.
In the BBC newsroom
At Channel 4 news
I hope this trip paves the way for future opportunities and collaboration
Zuha Siddiqui
Senior journalists, presenters and producers generously gave their time to talk through the news processes including story selection and verification.
I particularly enjoyed learning about Channel 4's editorial process and the conversation we had with editors at The Guardian, says Zuha. I hope this trip paves the way for future opportunities and collaboration.
Meeting Zahra Joya at Thomson Foundation s office
One particular highlight was a private meeting with Afghan journalist Zahra Joya. Zahra is founder and editor-in-chief of Rukhshana Media, a news agency reporting on life for women and girls in Afghanistan. She is now in London having fled the Taliban.
I really enjoyed and felt inspired by our conversation with Zahra, says Yara. Her strength and perseverance are phenomenal.
Thomson Foundation prides itself on nurturing and supporting young journalists and providing practical skills training. So the trio were treated to a masterclass in data visualisation led by Jola Piesakowska, one of Thomson's training experts.
A data visualisation masterclass
It was the first visit to London for both Yara and Jamaima. Time was made in the busy schedule for fun and sightseeing. Thankfully the temperamental November weather was kind and Yara thought the capital looked beautiful'.
I loved my trip to the UK, she says. Everyone at the Thomson Foundation was so friendly and helpful.
Yara, who received her accolade at the Foreign Press Association Media Awards where Her Majesty The Queen was guest of honour, says her favourite part has been getting to know Zuha and Jamaima.
[They] are both incredible and I feel so lucky that I can now count on these brilliant women to support each other in our journey, says Yara.
Young Journalist Award The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award is an annual competition organised 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 USD20,000. The 2024 competition will open in the summer.
Yara El Murr wins Young Journalist Award 2023
Jamaima Afridi YJA finalist 2023
Zuha Siddiqui YJA finalist 2023
Explore our projects across the globe
Most recent headlines
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today! By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
23/12/2025
New technique lights up where drugs go in the body, cell by cell Scripps Research scientists developed a technique that maps drug binding in individual cells th...
22/12/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Presidio's Neerav Shah on the Role of Its Captiva...
22/12/2025
Hitting the bullseye: Sky Sports readies itself for the biggest PDC World Darts ...
22/12/2025
Unique skillset: Bringing new directors to the world of darts at The Worlds with...
22/12/2025
Gravity Media prepares for a flight of fancy with the PDC World Darts Championsh...
22/12/2025
One hundred and eighty: Gravity Media on hitting the production bullseye at the ...
22/12/2025
The Famous Group's Jon Slusser on Fascinating Fans Through Immersive Content...
22/12/2025
ESPN's Meg Aronowitz on Continuing High-Quality Broadcasts of Collegiate Spo...
22/12/2025
ESPN Takes Data-Driven Storytelling to New Heights with MNF Playbook with Next ...
22/12/2025
For a decade, popular German podcast Fest & Flauschig has hosted an annual Chris...
22/12/2025
Paramount Scores Largest Share Increase Among Distributors as Paramount and CBS...
22/12/2025
New multi-year deal integrates Roku's data to fuel Nielsen's measurement suite
Roku gains access to Nielsen's streaming ratings, showing The Roku C...
The three finalists for the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year 2023 enjoyed an action-packed trip to London which included meeting the Queen, visits to the BBC, Channel 4 and The Guardian and the chance to sample some British pub grub. 
