Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ) will honor four remarkable journalists from Cuba, Iraqi Kurdistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam with its 2022 International Press Freedom Awards. All four have withstood immense challenges, including government crackdowns, aggression, and imprisonment to bring the public independent reporting amid rampant disinformation and war.
“Our award winners exemplify the best of journalism: work that shines a light on the impacts of war, corruption, and abuse of power on everyday lives,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg. “We look forward to honoring these inspirational journalists, who demonstrate the central role journalism plays in serving the public good.”
In recognition of their commitment to independent reporting in the face of immense challenges, including government crackdowns, aggression, and imprisonment, Niyaz Abdullah (Iraqi Kurdistan), a prominent Iraqi Kurdish freelance journalist.; Abraham Jimenez Enoa (Cuba), a freelance journalist and co-founder of the online narrative journalism magazine El Estornudo, launched in 2016.; Sevgil Musaieva (Ukraine), editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine’s leading independent online newspaper covering politics, economics, and culture – and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. and Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam), a reporter specializing in human rights and is the founder of the independent legal magazine Luat Khoa, have been named the recipients of CPJ’s 2022 International Press Freedom Awards.
CPJ will also honor Galian Timchenko, editor of the independent Russian news website Meduza, with the 2022 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Timchenko fled Russia due to pressure from the authorities during the previous invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The Gwen Ifill award is presented annually by CPJ’s board of directors in recognition of extraordinary and sustained commitment to press freedom.
Three of this year’s awardees live in exile, reflecting a growing trend in which journalists are forced to leave their home countries or risk imprisonment, violence, and even death. The awardees will be honored during a gala dinner in New York City on November 17, 2022.
“Galina Timchenko draws upon her enormous courage and ingenuity to deliver news to Meduza’s audiences, despite escalating obstacles from Russia’s government. She remains committed to free reporting, even in exile, and the CPJ board is honored to recognize her tenacity and fierce dedication to press freedom,” said Kathleen Carroll, chair of CPJ’s board.
Three of this year’s awardees are currently living in exile, reflecting a growing trend in which journalists are being forced to leave their home countries or risk imprisonment, violence, and even the threat of death. The awardees will be honored during a live gala dinner in New York City on November 17, 2022.
