Wan-Ifra Women in News Editorial Leadership Award names laureates

Laureates of the WIN Editorial leadership Award 2021. L to R: Edyth Kambalame, Samia Nakhoul and Nyein Nyein Naing.

Wan-Ifra Women in News is proud to announce the recipients of its 2021 Editorial Leadership Award. The annual award recognises the exemplary contribution of an editor to her newsroom, and under her leadership, her media organisation’s contribution to society. All three 2021 Laureates will be part of the WIN-sponsored panel at the Wan-Ifra World News Media Congress on 29 November 2021 and will be formally recognised in Zaragoza, Spain, in September 2022 as part of World News Media Congress 2022.

Wan-Ifra CEO Vincent Peyrègne said: “Leadership is more critical to journalism and the media business than ever, and our 2021 Women in News Editorial Leadership Award Laureates exemplify this excellence. We are honoured to welcome Kambalame, Naing and Nakhoul to this esteemed group of media leaders as part of our effort to recognise excellence and support greater equality in the news media industry.”

Edyth Kambalame, who is also vice-president of the Malawi Editors’ Forum; vice-chairperson of the Board of the Media Council of Malawi, and interim president of the Association of Women in Media in Malawi, has more than 15 years of experience in the media industry, steadily rising up the ranks and making her mark as a gender advocate, media trainer and mentor.

“This award comes about seven years since I started my journey with Women in News through the WIN Leadership Accelerator, and I could never have imagined it would lead to this. I am deeply honoured and grateful. I hope that this will encourage younger women journalists, and give them hope that their hard work and contributions to their newsrooms do get noticed and are worthy of recognition,” said Kambalame.

Nyein Nyein Naing was one of few women to ever hold the title of editor in chief of a major title in Myanmar. She started her journalism career in 2001 as an intern and rose up the editorial ranks at 7Day Digital, one of the country’s most influential independent media outlets. The publication was shuttered in response to a sweeping crackdown on independent media following the February 2021 military coup.

“I am humbled to receive this award, especially at a time when independent press freedom has been curtailed in our country. Journalists, particularly women, have been abandoning their lifelong passion under a cloud of pressure and threats. May this award represent all the women journalists of Myanmar, and let it stand as a symbol of courage and our commitment to bringing back the freedom of the press in our country,” said Naing.

Samia Nakhoul embodies bravery and duty to others. Her career has spanned 35 years of reporting from the Middle East, where she started out covering the civil war in Lebanon in the 1980s.

“I am deeply touched and honoured by this recognition. To the new generation of young women, I say: you are the voice of those who have no voices, be passionate, be rigorous, be truthful, be fearless and report without any favour or bias,” she said.