Malak A Tantesh, a 20-year-old journalist who previously served as a correspondent for the Guardian in Gaza, has been honoured with the prestigious Young Journalist of the Year award in the national press category at the UK's Media Freedom awards.
Reporting from a 'Gateway to Hell'
The judges from the Society of Editors praised Tantesh for demonstrating immense talent and bravery while working under some of the most severe conditions ever encountered by a journalist. They highlighted that she continued her vital reporting duties while facing the constant threat of bombing, the risk of targeted killing, and the dire need to forage for food for survival.
Tantesh reported from Gaza for an 18-month period for the Guardian, delivering first-hand accounts of the war's devastating impact. Her reporting was deeply personal; she documented the loss of close relatives and witnessed the immediate aftermath of bombing raids. In one poignant piece, she described her family's return to their birthplace in Beit Lahia, only to discover their home reduced to rubble and their cherished orchard destroyed, leading her to write that her memories are crushed and buried.
The Human Cost of Conflict
In a powerful article published in October, Tantesh reflected on two years of war, which she described as taking the people of Gaza through a gateway to hell. She wrote with shocking candour about the psychological toll, revealing there were moments when the surviving members of her own family envied the dead.
The extreme dangers faced by journalists in the region were underscored by a UN figure cited in the awards, which stated that at least 248 journalists had been killed in Gaza by September – a higher death toll than in any other modern conflict. The awards context also noted repeated allegations that Israel has deliberately targeted journalists, a charge which Israel denies, sometimes claiming those killed were Hamas operatives.
A Victory for Family and Colleagues
Accepting the award in London, Tantesh paid emotional tribute to her parents, who she said raised her to be the person she is today and who remain in Gaza, suffering the same hardships she endured. She also thanked her sister, Enas, who worked alongside her as a photographer, and her cousin, Seham, who has now taken up the role of correspondent. She expressed gratitude to her editors and colleagues at the Guardian and all those who supported her.
Katharine Viner, the Guardian's editor-in-chief, celebrated the win, stating she was thrilled that Malak's brave, meticulous, moving reporting, delivered under the most awful circumstances, had been recognised. Viner confidently predicted that a brilliant journalistic future is ahead of her.
