Malak A Tantesh, a 20-year-old former Gaza correspondent for The Guardian, has been named Young Journalist of the Year in the UK's Media Freedom Awards. The Society of Editors recognized Tantesh's immense talent and bravery while reporting from one of the most challenging environments for journalists, where she faced constant danger and had to fend for herself.
During her 18-month stint in Gaza, Tantesh witnessed unimaginable suffering and loss, including the impact of war on her own family. Her writing captured the devastating aftermath of bombing, including the destruction of her family's home and orchard. "My memories are crushed and buried," she wrote, a poignant reflection of the trauma she experienced.
Tantesh was also part of an alarming trend: at least 248 journalists had been killed in Gaza by September, according to the UN. Repeated allegations have surfaced that Israel targeted journalists, but Israel has denied these claims, saying some journalists were Hamas operatives. Tantesh's own safety was constantly at risk, and she reported under extraordinary circumstances.
Despite the risks, Tantesh continued to report, and her dedication paid off when she received the award. "They are still there in Gaza, suffering what I was suffering during the past months," she said, thanking her parents for raising her to be strong. She also acknowledged the support of her sister Enas, who worked alongside her as a photographer, and her cousin Seham, who has now taken up her position as correspondent.
The Guardian's editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, praised Tantesh's "brave, meticulous, moving reporting" delivered under "awful circumstances." A brilliant journalistic future lies ahead for the young journalist, whose remarkable story serves as a testament to the power of courage and dedication in the face of adversity.
During her 18-month stint in Gaza, Tantesh witnessed unimaginable suffering and loss, including the impact of war on her own family. Her writing captured the devastating aftermath of bombing, including the destruction of her family's home and orchard. "My memories are crushed and buried," she wrote, a poignant reflection of the trauma she experienced.
Tantesh was also part of an alarming trend: at least 248 journalists had been killed in Gaza by September, according to the UN. Repeated allegations have surfaced that Israel targeted journalists, but Israel has denied these claims, saying some journalists were Hamas operatives. Tantesh's own safety was constantly at risk, and she reported under extraordinary circumstances.
Despite the risks, Tantesh continued to report, and her dedication paid off when she received the award. "They are still there in Gaza, suffering what I was suffering during the past months," she said, thanking her parents for raising her to be strong. She also acknowledged the support of her sister Enas, who worked alongside her as a photographer, and her cousin Seham, who has now taken up her position as correspondent.
The Guardian's editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, praised Tantesh's "brave, meticulous, moving reporting" delivered under "awful circumstances." A brilliant journalistic future lies ahead for the young journalist, whose remarkable story serves as a testament to the power of courage and dedication in the face of adversity.
. And then you got Israel saying some journalists were Hamas operatives... I don't know, man, it's just too much drama. But at the same time, Malak's story is actually pretty inspiring - she kept going despite all the risks, that takes courage 
. And her family's home and orchard got destroyed during the war... I can only imagine how tough that must've been for her. Anyway, good on The Guardian for recognizing her talent 
.
. I mean, what's next? Giving awards to people who just showed up on the scene during a conflict and got some decent shots 
? It's not like Malak Tantesh was a hero for doing her job - she was born into journalism, folks. She had parents who encouraged her passion for storytelling. And let's be real, the UN is probably counting down its own number of journalists killed in Gaza 
. So does this award truly recognize her bravery or just legitimize the narrative that we need more journalists like her to report on the world's problems?
. And don't even get me started on The Guardian's involvement... they're just profiting off her struggles to sell papers 
. I'm sure she'll just keep churning out clickbait pieces and collecting paychecks while the people of Gaza continue to suffer 
i feel bad 4 her fam though, can u imagine losin ur home nd orchard 2 a bombing? 
at least shes got her sis & cousin who r supportin her thru thick & thin 
I'm sending all my love and admiration to Malak and her family 
! 18 months in Gaza is crazy talk, facing that much danger and still managing to write something so powerful and moving 
. I mean, it's not surprising she won, though - her writing is seriously on point 
. The fact that the UN says at least 248 journalists were killed in Gaza by September is just heartbreaking 
. And what Israel has said about some of those journalists being Hamas operatives? No way, that sounds totally made up 
. Anyway, I'm glad Malak's dedication paid off and she got this award - she definitely deserves it 
Another award given out without any consideration for The Guardian's questionable content moderation policies 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, Malak A Tantesh is an amazing young journalist, but shouldn't we also be talking about how her reporting was actually vetted by editors before it made it to print? 
There's always a second story here... 
this is amazing news! Malak Tantesh's bravery and talent are truly inspiring 
it's heartbreaking what she went through, but her writing is a testament to her strength 
and I love how she credits her family and sister for supporting her throughout 
it's not just about her own talent, but also about the people who helped her tell those important stories 
And then you gotta think about the impact on her family and all that... it's not even about the journalism, it's about human life. 
Israel denying allegations or whatever, but still... journalist safety is a major issue, you know?
The Guardian's recognition of her bravery and dedication is well-deserved, I think it's a testament to how important it is for us to have journalists like Malak A Tantesh keeping our voices heard. 
like what even is going on there? 
and now this young journalist gets an award for reporting from one of the most danger zones... I mean, I guess it's about time someone recognized her bravery 
. The fact that she still managed to deliver such powerful writing under those conditions is just mind-blowing 
NO WAY!!! Not on my watch lol. Seriously though, she's a total inspiration 2 us all. Journalism is 4 the people & she just proved that