News

AMEJA hosted a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington DC on July 28th to honor Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Speakers included Laila Al-Arian, Laila Barghouti, Rhana Natour and the event was moderated by Zahra Hankir. A recording of the event can be found here.

For the first time since its inception in 2005, AMEJA is launching a series of awards to highlight exceptional work by and about Arab and Middle Eastern communities. AMEJA will present three awards along with a modest $500 cash prize for each winner for: Best coverage of the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, best coverage of MENA heritage communities in North America and the Walid El-Gabry Memorial Award, named after one of AMEJA’s founders to recognize the work of an AMEJA member. To find out more and apply click here. 

AMEJA’s board held its monthly board meeting virtually on Wednesday July 6th, 2022. The board discussed the recently-formed volunteer committees, the 2022 AMEJA Awards and a DC event to honor Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

The New York Times published an OpEd by AMEJA member Maurice Chammah entitled

America’s ‘Machinery of Death’ Is Slowly Grinding to a Halt on June 29th, 2022. Chammah is staff writer at the Marshall Project and the author of “Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty.” Photo credit: Tamir Kalifa

AMEJA has formed five volunteer committees to focus on a number of areas to help the organization advance its mission. The committees include: mentorship, events, resource development, digital and fundraising. If you are a member and interested in joining one of the committees, email: board@ameja.org

AMEJA members attended the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) conference in Denver, including several who were panel speakers. Pictured from the right: Karen Zraick (NYT), Hoda Osman (ARIJ, France 24), Adam Yahya Rayes (KUNC), Robyn Vincent (KUNC), Maurice Chammah (The Marshall Project), Mariam Elba (ProPublica) Missing: ​​Samah Assad (CBS Chicago), Sewell Chan (Texas Tribune), Melanie Asmar (Chalkbeat).

 

AMEJA is excited to announce that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rory Peck Trust, a UK-based non-profit organization “dedicated to the support, safety and welfare of freelance newsgatherers around the world.” RPT has several grants available to freelancers. AMEJA and RPT also plan to hold joint training workshops and events.

AMEJA Issues Statement Regarding the Killing of Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

• AMEJA issued a statement about the killing of Palestinian-American journalists Shireen Abu Akleh. Shireen and her colleagues were wearing press vests and helmets and were clearly identifiable as journalists. AMEJA joins other organizations in demanding a transparent and independent investigation into what led to Shireen’s death. You can read the full statement here .

AMEJA board member Karen Zraick won the prestigious June Sidney award for her coverage of a lethal construction site in New York City. Karen won the award along with her colleague Dan Barry for exposing the most lethal construction site in New York City through their NYT story 20 Men Lost to 20 Bruckner Boulevard

• AMEJA started a members-only, weekly newsletter containing a compilation of numerous job openings at various organizations and other opportunities, including fellowships and award submissions. The newsletter is emailed to members every Friday.