Nigeria’s Investigative multimedia journalist, Uthman Samad is on the shortlist of ten for the 2021 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award.
His selection along with nine others from over 200 entries from 55 countries by the foundation judging panel was announced on Friday.
After the next rounds of judging, when three finalists will be named, the winner will be announced on 29th November at the FPA Awards ceremony in London.
Samad who is a staff Dataphyte was formerly of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting and a DUBAWA fact-checking fellow.
One of Samad’s pieces according to the panel featured a timely story on a drug trial that went wrong 24 years previously.
“He caught up with the uncompensated victims and pieced together what had gone wrong in a meticulous investigation. Samad’s other stories were about the retirees being denied their pensions and the underserved communities drinking from dirty streams.”
Other nominees and comments on their entries below:
Carmen Valeria Escobar Castillo, El Salvador
The judges particularly liked the story of environmental campaigner, Sonia Sanchez, whose fight illustrated the real problems in El Salvador. The piece was well written and structured and took the reader to the heart of the issues. Carmen’s other stories were about the textile workers turning a warehouse into a feminist space and the chilling case of the murdered and the missing Lima family.
Parth Nikhil, India
Parth’s stories revealed how the Covid-19 pandemic was pushing people in rural India into permanent poverty and the judges were impressed by his investigation into child brides being married off as young as 12 to save families’ money. His third story was about how the climate crisis is hurting farmers.
Shrouk Ghonim, Egypt
Judges praised the brave and moving film from Shrouk about a transgender teacher’s fight to be accepted; her approach to the Covid-19 story, by profiling the experiences of eight health workers living in fear but doing their duty, was similarly impressive. Her third story was about a major campaign to clean up the Nile.
Daniel Lutaaya, Uganda
Daniel went undercover to expose child trafficking in rural villages. His investigation into the Ugandan private health system exposed a series of shortcomings and exploitations of patients and families desperate for care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another of his stories documented the rate of human encroachment on Lake Victoria.
Kai Hui Wong, Malaysia
Kai investigated corruption and environmental mismanagement in a waste disposal business, as well as trans-rights in Malaysian hospitals, showing a range of skills. She also documented the controversial mining operations linked to Pahang royalty.
Tatiana Pardo Ibarra, Colombia
Judges praised Tatiana’s investigation on a trio of stories; the illegal raising of beef cattle in protected areas, the sale of illegal shark fins and how indigenous people are at the mercy of gangs. All thorough and well written.
Md. Ibrahim Khalilullah, Bangladesh
Ibrahim put himself in the picture in his video investigation into the lack of public toilet facilities in Dhaka (transcriptions available here). The judges liked his approach and felt the story was fresh and original. His other two stories were about the pure water crisis and water ATM booths.
Mahima Jain, India
Mahima reported on the women left behind with no land rights by migrant husbands. It was thoroughly researched, a very human story and well presented. Her investigation into domestic violence worsening during the Covid-19 pandemic was similarly impressive. Mahima also presented a podcast episode about India’s farm laws and the threats to biodiversity as part of her portfolio of work.
Zuha Siddiqui, Pakistan
Zuha’s trio of stories – a trans TikTok star trading the sidelines for the spotlight, an investigation into a fake vaccine programme by the CIA during the hunt for Bin Laden which has led to vaccine hesitancy, and a look at new biodiverse farming methods – show great range and flair.
