On Tuesday May 23, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a Palestinian photographer with AFP, was announced the winner of the prize for best photograph at an annual Arab journalism awards ceremony held in Dubai.
Ashtiyeh won the Arab Journalism Award for his coverage of crises in Kfar Qaddum located at the occupied West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli forces on March 4, 2016.
The award was handed out at the closing session of the regional Arab Media Forum conference Tuesday night.
Ashtiyeh’s photograph shows a man trying to rescue a wounded child from the ground, as an Israeli soldier stands pointing his rifle in the background.
On this same incident though for another picture, Ashtiyeh has also been reported to have won an honorable mention at the National Press Photographers Association awards ceremony in the United States.
Lebanese journalist Ghassan Charbel, editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab daily Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, was awarded the prize in Dubai for top journalist, while Saudi online news portal Sabq won the prize for best online journalism.
The Arab Journalist Awards, established in 1999, rewards talent, inspires excellence, and motivate creativity. Since its inception more than 500 senior journalists, writers, academics and specialists have participated as judging committee members, and more than 35 eminent media persons from different intellectual backgrounds and professional experience have served on the board of directors for the awards.
Outstanding contributions in the following 12 categories will be honored at the Arab Journalism Awards: 2011 Investigative Reporting, Young Talent Journalism, Photo Journalism, Economic Journalism, Outstanding Cartoon Works, Specialized Journalism, Best Press Interviews Journalism, Best Columnist Award, and Media Personality of the Year.
