Birzeit University announces winners of the Shireen Abu Akleh Award for Media Excellence

On May 11, 2023—the first anniversary of the assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh—Birzeit University announced the results of the Shireen Abu Akleh Award for Media Excellence. Launched in honor of Abu Akleh, the award promotes media content that addresses the Palestinian cause.

In his opening speech, Birzeit University Acting President Dr. Talal Shahwan maintained, “With the assassination of Shireen, the Palestinian community and Birzeit University suffered a significant loss. Abu Akleh has a special connection with Birzeit University. She was a media trainer and passed on her experience to media students in the TV Reports course offered by the media department. She also obtained a diploma in broadcasting in 1997 and another in digital media in 2020 from the Media Development Center at Birzeit University.”

Shireen Abu Akleh’s brother, Toni Abu Akleh, thanked Birzeit University for this award that honors Shireen’s memory and legacy. He added, “Shireen brought attention to the suffering of Palestinians and amplified their voices to the world. This award encourages journalists to continue their mission of reporting the truth and exposing Israeli practices against Palestinians. The soldiers who shot her and the officers who ordered them will be held accountable. We will not relent until we achieve justice.”

Walid Al-Omari, bureau chief of Al Jazeera in Jerusalem and Ramallah, added, “Last September, the Al Jazeera Media Network filed a formal request to the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute those responsible for Shireen’s death. We are still waiting for the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan to take action against this crime and not to submit to political pressure.”

Imad Alasfar, director of the Media Development Center, talked about freedom of press and obstacles that face Palestinian journalists, while Dr. Mohammed Abualrob, chairperson of the Department of Media, elaborated on the work of the award committee and the criteria and mechanisms employed in selecting the winners.

The award committee consisted of Abualrob, Al-Omari, Dr. Walid Shurafa, Mohammed Daraghmeh, Emad Alasfar, Nibal Al-Thwabteh, Jumane Qunnaisse and Nahed Abu Taimeh.

Duha Hamdan, journalist at the WAFA Palestinian News and Info Agency, won in the category of visual media, while Nisreen Awwad, journalist at the Voice of Palestine Radio, was the winner in the category of audio media. Basma AlKurd and Rasha Abu Jalal, journalists from Gaza, won the award in the category of digital media.

Inas Abu Rmeleh, student in the Department of Media, received the Shireen Abu Akleh Endowed Scholarship, which will be given annually to high-achieving female media students at the university to encourage media and academic excellence.

The university honored Abu Akleh’s family and Al Jazeera Office in Palestine in recognition of her significant impact in the field of journalism locally and regionally.