2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

International Affairs (English)

Winner

"Palestinians Remember Their Catastrophe"
Farkhunda Ali, Muslim Link

Runner Up

"Institute of Turkish Studies Chair Was Ousted for Acknowledging Genocide"
Lou Ann Matossian, Armenian Reporter

International Affairs (English)

Winner: Farkhunda Ali "Palestinians Remember Their Catastrophe," Muslim Link (College Park, Maryland)

In May 2008, Farkhunda Ali took her five-year-old son with her to attend a series of protests and conferences in Washington, D.C., for the 60th anniversary of Al-Nakba or The Catastrophe as Palestinians call Israel's declaration of independence in 1948. Through the eyes of her child, Ali wanted to illustrate the desire of people, regardless of color and religious beliefs, to live in peace and harmony.

"I was not interested in pointing fingers and subjective reporting. I wanted to build relations with people," says Ali, then a staff reporter for the Muslim Link. "I wanted to hear what they (Palestinians) have to say, how they feel, their childhood memories, about their pain, their suffering, and their vision for a future."

But getting her sources, both in the United States and the Gaza Strip, to speak was a daunting job. It took her a month to get the information that she needed for the story. "I interviewed some sources who only spoke Arabic. I used the little colloquial Arabic that I knew," she says. An Arabic interpreter helped her "communicate respectfully with the elders and hold casual conversations over lunch with the young generation."

The most moving part of reporting the story, she says, was when she met a 74-year-old woman who shared her life story over a cup of tea while showing pictures in her black-and-white album. "I sat with this source for five hours and time just flew by. I wanted to create a clear picture of her sufferings that have made her the honorable strong woman that she is."

Ali received her bachelor's degree in Communications from George Mason University in 2001. She worked as a full-time staff reporter for the Muslim Link Newspaper from 2005-2008, and still freelances for them and other publications. She lives with her husband and their four children in Washington, D.C.


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Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.

Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.