Qarib Award-Winning Coverage | First Place – Best Coverage of Women Affected by Conflict and Crises

On November 14, 2024, CFI’s Qarib Programme brought together over 100 journalists from Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine at the residence of the French Ambassador, Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, in Amman to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievements at the Qarib Awards 2024. This year’s edition particularly highlighted the courage and resilience of women journalists in the region.

In the heart of Gaza, under the non-stop Israeli airstrikes, Bisan Odeh a female Palestenian content creator and storyteller, turned to audio storytelling as a form of resistance and documentation. Using only her phone, she recorded and sent voice messages via WhatsApp, capturing the daily struggles, fears, and fleeting moments of normalcy amid war.

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Produced by Sowt, Voices Under Bombardment offers an intimate, unfiltered account of life under siege. From whispered family debates on escape routes to her conversations with her cat about an uncertain future, Bisan’s recordings preserve the voices of Palestinian civilians often drowned out by war.

This award-winning podcast stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of women in conflict, ensuring their stories echo beyond the destruction. 

In a region marked by conflict and political turmoil, many women journalists have found themselves on the frontlines, often in extremely challenging conditions. Covering war and violence was not necessarily their initial path, yet they have stepped forward with dedication, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to truth. In Palestine and Lebanon, where relentless conflict has turned reporters into war correspondents overnight, these women have continued to document the realities of war while upholding the highest standards of ethical journalism, despite the immense risks.

With over 200 submissions, the Qarib Awards showcased the diversity, creativity, and depth of journalism in the Middle East. Beyond recognizing outstanding journalistic work, this year’s awards served as a tribute to the essential role of women in the media landscape. Their perseverance, determination, and commitment to amplifying voices too often overlooked are more critical than ever in an era where independent journalism stands as a barrier against misinformation and manipulation.