Inquirer Awards (English)

A showcase for investigative excellence

The Inquirer Awards was started in 2003 to applaud and promote investigative journalism in Jordan. Since then, it has grown to include Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, with award categories covering television, photojournalism and print.

The Inquirer Award aims to find journalists who can demonstrate their ability to examine, in depth, a significant issue that is relevant to the region and its people. All entries must be primarily aimed at an Arabic audience. The awards programme was not held in 2006 and 2010. Winners of the 2011 Inquirer Awards are due to be announced in early 2012.

The Inquirer Award project is managed by the Thomson Foundation and funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. For more information email inquirer.award@gmail.com or use the Thomson Foundation contact form.

INQUIRER AWARD 2009

The Inquirer Award project was expanded to include Iraq in addition to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.

Winners of the 2009 Inquirer Awards with Thomson Foundation chairman Lord Fowler

PRINT CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for the print media . From Syria, Hmoud Al Ajaj working for Al Ba’ath Newspaper . An investigation into an old tradition that is driving young men and women to suicide and homicide!
2nd Place for best investigative report for the print media . From Jordan, Rania Al Sarayrah working for Al Ghad Newspaper . An investigation into families who remove the uterus of their mentally disabled girls in fear of them getting pregnant or raped.
3rd Place for best investigative report for the print media . From Lebanon, Imadeddine Raef working for Waw Magazine.
An investigation into the political rights of people with disabilities in Lebanon
Special mention for best Investigative Reporter in the Youth category (25 years and under) . From Palestine, Majdoleen Hassouneh, a student of Journalism at Annajah University in Nablus.  An investigation into the medical field in Palestine.

TELEVISION CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for television . From Lebanon, Josephine Deeb working for OTV . An investigation into the crisis involving the shipment of toxic waste that entered Lebanon in 1987 and the effects it has had.
2nd Place for best investigative report for television.  From Iraq, Haidar Lateef Al Miyahi working for Al Hurra Television. An investigation into the conditions of Iraqi translators.
3rd Place for best investigative report for television.  From Lebanon, Riyadh Qubaisi working for New TV . An investigation into 30 thousand wanted individuals in Ba’albak Al Harmil.
Special mention for best Investigative Reporter in the Youth category (25 years and under).  From Palestine, Mustafa Al Nabeeh working for Palestine Media Production Company.  An investigation into the story of a young Palestinian man from Gaza who fell in love with a Jewish girl from Nazareth.

PHOTOJOURNALISM CATEGORY

1st Place for best news photographer . From Palestine, Ala’aeddine Badarneh working for European Press Agency
2nd Place for best news photographer . From Syria, Wael Khaleefeh working for Al Ba’ath newspaper
3rd Place for best news photographer.  From Palestine, Hatem Mousa working for AP agency
Special mention for best Photojournalist in the Youth Category (25 years and under). From Jordan Ahd Ali, a student of photography.

INQUIRER AWARD 2008

The Inquirer Award project was expanded to include a separate category for Photojournalism.

PRINT CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for the print media.  From Palestine, Ibrahim Abu Kamish working for Al Hayat Al Jadeeda newspaper and Sanabel monthly newspaper.  An investigation into allegations of torture at the interrogation centres of the Palestinian Authority.
2nd Place for best investigative report for the print media.  From Jordan, Emad Shaheen working for Al Muwajah weekly newspaper.  An investigation into allegations of human trafficking in the Qualified Industrial Zones in Jordan.
3rd Place for best investigative report for the print media . From Palestine, Hassan Yousef Dohan working for Al Hayat Al Jadeeda newspaper.  An investigation into the owners of the smuggling tunnels and the price paid by the people.

TELEVISION CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for television.  From Lebanon, Riyad Qubaisi working for New TV An investigation into the chaos of arms in a country rife with political and factional tensions.
2nd Place for best investigative report for television From Lebanon, Faris Hatoum working for New TV An investigation into the conditions of street children in Lebanon.
3rd Place for best investigative report for television From Lebanon, Ogarite Dandash working for New TV An investigation into allegations of torture in Lebanese jails.

PHOTOJOURNALISM CATEGORY

1st Place for best news photographer . From Palestine, Eyad Al Baba working for Al Ayyam Newspaper . A series of photos on the Egyptian/Palestinian border.
2nd Place for best news photographer . From Palestine, Mohammad Al Baba working for AFP A series of photos on the dangerous work of a photojournalist.
3rd Place for best news photographer . From Syria, Wael Khalifah working for Al Baath Newspaper.  A series of photos on smoking and how it affects children.

INQUIRER AWARD 2007

PRINT CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for the print media . Fatmeh Ridda from Lebanon, Al Hayat Newspaper.  An investigation into the thousands of people in Lebanon who do not have any official records.
2nd Place for best investigative report for the print media . Raed Laffi from Palestine, Al Akhbar Newspaper.  An investigation into honour killings in Palestine.
3rd Place for best investigative report for the print media . Lina Al Judi from Syria, Al Hayat Newspaper.  An investigation into the little protection given to some historic sites.

TELEVISION CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for television . Dia’ Abu Ta’am from Lebanon, Al Manar Television.  An investigation into the environmental pollution caused by the Normandi garbage dumpsite in Lebanon and the corruption behind it.
2nd Place for best investigative report for television.  Murad Al Battoush from Jordan, The Jordan United TV Broadcasting Corporation.  An investigation into medical malpractice cases in Jordan.
3rd Place for best investigative report for television.  Firas Hatoum from Lebanon, New TV.  An investigation into the conditions of Rumya prison in Lebanon.

INQUIRER AWARD 2005

The Inquirer Award project expanded to include a category for television investigative reports. The English language category was cancelled.

PRINT CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report in print media . Marlain Khaleefeh of Annahar Newspaper in Lebanon.  An investigation into the life and work of Samir Qaseer.
2nd Place for best investigative report in print media . Emad Shahin of Al Shahed weekly newspaper in Jordan . An investigation into the trading of human body parts in Jordan.
3rd Place for best investigative report in print media . Hmoud Al Mahmoud of Tishreen Newspaper in Syria . An investigation into breaches of residential building regulations.

TELEVISION CATEGORY

1st Place for best investigative report for television . Raeda Waqqaf for Syrian Television . An investigation into the current status of the Old City, it’s neglect and lack of services.
2nd Place for best investigative report for television.  Khaled Al Faqeeh for Al Manar Television . An investigation into the spread of cancer in the southern parts of Hebron.
3rd Place for best investigative report for television . Radwan Shalaby for Al Quds Educational television channel. An investigation into employment opportunities for the physically handicapped in Palestine.

INQUIRER AWARD 2004

The Inquirer Award project was expanded to include print journalists from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Awards were given to 2 investigative reports written in English.

1st Place for best investigative report written in Arabic . Mohammed Ibrahim Daraghmeh of Al Ayyam Newspaper in Ramallah . An investigation into how some are taking advantage of the Intifada and lack of security to commit murders and crimes.
1st Place for best investigative report written in English . Majdouline Hatoum of the Daily Star Newspaper in Lebanon . An investigation into how religion can still affect the prospects of employment in Lebanon.
2nd Place for best investigative report written in Arabic.  Marlaine Khaleefeh of Al Nahar Newspaper in Lebanon . An investigation into the aftermath of the Kotono plane crash – the worst aviation disaster in the history of Lebanon.
2nd Place for best investigative report written in English.  Mutaz Mango of JO Magazine in Jordan . An investigation into the legal, religious and social issues surrounding abortion.
3rd Place for best investigative report written in Arabic . Iyad Issa of Tishreen Newspaper in Syria . An investigation into the livestock trade in Syria and the losses to the national economy to the benefit of some merchants.

INQUIRER AWARD 2003

The First Inquirer Award project was held in Jordan and included a first prize for the best investigative report written in English.

1st Place for best Investigative report written in Arabic . Khalaf Al Tahat of Al Rai Newspaper in Jordan.  An investigation into the attempts to reform and restructure the judiciary in Jordan.
1st Place for best investigative report written in English . Mutaz Mango of JO Magazine . An investigation into the world of computer hackers in Jordan.
2nd Place for the best investigative report written in Arabic . Tala’at Shana’a from Addustour Newspaper . An investigation into Jordan’s experience in the field of genetically modified crops.
3rd Place for the best investigative report written in Arabic.  Jumana Salem of Addustour Newspaper . An investigation into how some Jordanian women were breaking taboos and working in traditionally male jobs.