Fakhria Radfar(left), Asiya Hamzayee, and Liyaqat layeeq(left) share AFJC’ 2021 Afghanistan Journalist of the Year Award
Kabul—The Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC), honored three journalists including two women with the Afghanistan Journalists of the Year Award for 2021 during a special ceremony marking the National Journalist Day in Kabul on Wednesday, March 17.
The award is given in recognition of the incredible work and dedication of the journalists who’ve gone the extra mile to report the stories that matter the most.
Among the shortlisted journalists for the Afghanistan Journalist of the Year Award was Mr. Liyaqat Layeeq of Etilaat-e-Roz for his story on misuse of a contingency fund, 91 Policy Code, Ms. Fakhria Radfar of Payk investigative journalism for her report on un-registered religious schools, guarded by illegal armed men and Ms. Asiya Hamzayee of Hasht-e-Subh for her feature on Hanifa, one of the victims of the brutal terrorist attack at Kabul university.
They received the highest scores and were jointly recognized as the winners of the 2021 Afghanistan Journalist of the Year Award and were rewarded a Crystal Plague and US$500.
Layeeq, is receiving the Journalist of the Year Award for the second consequence year. He won the last year's award for his story on the contingency fund, 91 Policy Code
Speaking on behalf of the panel of judges, Mr. Zabihullah Noori said that the panel reviewed a total of 50 applications of television, radio, print, and online journalists from across the country and shortlisted 13 applicants who received the highest scores.
In addition to the Afghanistan Journalist of the Year, AFJC also recognized the work of top-10 journalists whose stories scored high in this year’s competition. They were all rewarded with the certificate of recognition:
- Mr. Mojtaba Bigzad, Hasht-e-Subh daily
- Mr. Esmatullah Soroush, Etilaat-e-Roz
- Mr. Ahmad Sohib Hasrat, Pajhwok
- Mr. Alishir Shahir, Subh-e-Kabul daily
- Ms. Somaiya Valizada, Killid Radio
- Mr. Zabihullah Ghazi, VOA
- Mr. SamiuRahman Rahmani, Shamshad TV
- Ms. Behishta Aziz, Afghan women's News Agency
- Mr. Mobaser Maroof, Arezo TV
- Mr. Hedayatullah Zyarmal, Salaam Times
AFJC launched the Afghanistan Journalists of the Year award in 2014 to appreciate the professionalism of Afghan journalists and to encourage them to adhere to internationally applied journalism standards in their coverage of events inside Afghanistan.