Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy to receive International Journalism Award in Washington

WASHINGTON - Pakistan’s award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will be honoured with the ICFJ Knight Journalism Award next month at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner, hosted by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer in Washington .

Sharmeen was one of two recipients of the Knight International Journalism Award that were announced on May 31 in Washington , DC.

She will share the award with Syrian photographer and video-journalist Karam al-Masri on November 9, the ICFJ said on Twitter on Monday.

On Nov. 9, we will honor @sharmeenochinoy & @KaramAlmasri25 with the @ICFJKnight International Journalism Award , https://t.co/79RNgTzoY7 pic.twitter.com/IZL5pu1p4J

— ICFJ (@ICFJ) October 23, 2017

The International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) recognised Obaid-Chinoy’s decades-long career, which led to a legislative change in her home country of Pakistan .

“I began writing for newspapers in Pakistan when I was 14 years old and produced my first documentary film at the age of 21. Throughout my career I have strived to investigate stories that make people deeply uncomfortable, in the hope that they will spark conversations that will eventually lead to changes in attitudes,” said Obaid-Chinoy.

A two-time Oscar winner, she is best known for her 2015 documentary A Girl in the River, which took on the issue of honour killings in Pakistan and led parliament to pass a law criminalising honour killings.

Karam Al-Masri will be honoured for his work in photographing war-torn Aleppo.

The Knight International Journalism Award recognises media professionals who are passionate about outstanding reporting that makes a difference.

“At great personal risk, Obaid-Chinoy and Al Masri faced terrorism head-on, getting behind the scenes to chronicle untold abuses,” said ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan, in a statement.