These 15 young journalists have all been shortlisted because of the considerable impact they have made in the journalism sector.
The One Young World Journalist of the Year Award recognises five of the world's most outstanding journalists between the ages of 18 - 35, who are using their stories to have a positive impact on people in their communities and countries. Through their courageous work, these candidates highlight the importance having diverse voices in media.
The shortlisted nominees are currently being reviewed by One Young World’s expert judging panel, who will decide the final five winners.
The winners will be announced in mid-March and will be presented with this award at the One Young World 2022 Summit.
The Shortlist
Abraham Jiménez Enoa, Cuba
Abraham Jiménez Enoa is a journalist and writer from Havana. He is the Co-Founder of El Estornudo, the first Cuban magazine dedicated to narrative journalism and the recipient of the 2022 International Press Freedom Award. Whilst living in exile, he published his first book “La Isla Oculta”. He is currently working on his new book, and his first feature documentary as writer - director.
Aisha Salaudeen, Nigeria
Aisha Salaudeen is a Nigerian multimedia journalist named one of the 50 Young Trailblazers across the Globe by Vogue. As a producer with CNN, she writes & produces stories about African innovators & creatives impacting their communities. Aisha has produced a variety of TV shows highlighting the changemaking work of young people across Africa.
Bridget Brennan, Australia
Bridget Brennan is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman and the Indigenous Affairs Editor at the ABC and has been working with the national broadcaster for more than a decade. Bridget has been investigating the crisis of missing and murdered First Nations women in Australia, uncovering that hundreds of cases have received little attention. She also anchored the historic Uluṟu Statement from the Heart.
Daniel Lutaaya, Uganda
Daniel Lutaaya is an Investigative journalist and the founder and CEO of Uganda’s first 24 hour online multimedia news service, News 24/7. He is a 3-time winner of the Ugandan national journalism award and has produced award winning investigations about health service delivery, human rights and corruption and has also launched Uganda’s first Eco Film Festival.
Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya, Zambia
Currently working as Production Manager and Senior Reporter/Presenter at Diamond TV in Zambia, Dingindaba has quickly distinguished himself as a young journalist with a passion for investigative reporting and social justice issues. Dingindaba's coverage of the 2021 Zambian election was widely praised for its depth and insight, and he quickly gained a following among young people. He is the youngest recipient of the prestigious BBC Komla Dumor Award.
Hanna Liubakova, Belarus
Hanna Liubakova is a journalist and analyst from Belarus and a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. Hanna started her career at the only independent Belarusian channel, Belsat TV, banned by the regime. Liubakova reported in four languages across Belgium, the UK, Poland, and Chechnya and is widely recognised as one of Belarus's leading voices of the free press. In 2021, Liubakova was a European Press Prize finalist.
Jake Hanrahan, United Kingdom
Jake Hanrahan focuses on conflict, crime, and subculture. He has reported from Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Hong Kong, Armenia, and Kosovo. Hanrahan launched his own platform—Popular Front, a grassroots media organisation focused on war and conflict. His investigative work exposing a global network of far-right militants for ProPublica and Frontline PBS contributed to a DuPont award and helped to prevent a planned terror attack.
Laura Sánchez Ley, Mexico
Laura is an investigative journalist and author of specialised books on issues of government transparency and public safety in Mexico. She is the co-creator of ARCHIVERO, an initiative that brings to light political and judicial documents classified as state secrets to make them available to all citizens. Laura has been in the finalist team for the Pulitzer Prize in 2021, the Walter Reuters German Journalism Prize and the World Justice Project's Anthony Lewis Award.
Mohammed El-Kurd, Palestine
An internationally touring and award-winning poet, writer and journalist. Mohammed was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. He is best known for his role as a co-founder of the #SaveSheikhJarrah movement. His work has been featured in numerous international outlets and he has appeared repeatedly as a commentator on major TV networks. He is the recipient of the “Truth in Media” Award and shortlisted for the 2022 One World Media Print Award.
Natashya Gutierrez, The Philippines
Natashya Gutierrez is an award-winning Filipino journalist whose multimedia work focuses on human rights reporting on Asia. In the last decade, she built and ran two newsrooms as a young, innovative manager: as Editor-in-Chief of Vice World News in Asia-Pacific, and as Indonesia Bureau Chief of Rappler. She was part of the founding team of Rappler in the Philippines, alongside Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa
Qazi Shibli, Kashmir
Qazi Shibli has worked on issues in politics, human rights and minority ethnic groups. His detainment ranked fifth on Time's list of "10 most urgent threats to press freedom. Despite the ongoing intimidation and silencing of journalists in the Kashmir region, Qazi is one of the few journalists who continue to uphold journalism and freedom of expression in the Kashmir region. Qazi runs The Kashmiriyat, a news organisation where young people as well as being employed are also given training for working in the media industry.
Sahar Zand, United Kingdom
Sahar Zand is a British-Iranian reporter and filmmaker with extensive experience in long-form current affairs and documentaries. Sahar has fronted and produced a range of award-winning stories from across the world, including some of the most remote and hostile environments, for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, Vice and a number of other international broadcasters.
Tre'vell Anderson, United States
Tre'vell Anderson is an award-winning journalist, noted podcast host, and authoress doing world-changing work around society and culture. Named to The Root’s 2020 list of the 100 most influential African Americans. In 2018, they received the “Passing the Torch Award” for their work in media and representing the LGBTQ+ community. They were recognized as one of Empowerment Congress’s “40 Under 40.” and received the Lisa Ben Award for Achievement in Features Coverage from NLGJA: The LGBTQ+ Journalists Assn.
Vicky Xu, Australia
Vicky Xu is a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and covered China and beyond for the New York Times and the ABC. Xu led the groundbreaking Uyghurs for Sale report which served as evidence for renewed modern slavery legislation in a number of countries. The Chinese State media propaganda campaign ultimately accused her of treason and rendered Xu one of the most well-known Chinese journalists in exile, and one who continues to inspire young Chinese people to speak out against tyranny.
Zahra Joya, Afghanistan
One of TIME’s 2022 Women of the Year, Zahra Joya is the founder of Rukhshana Media, a women-led news organisation covering women’s issues in Afghanistan. Rukhshana Media received the Louis M. Lyons Award for conscience and integrity in journalism and the Marie Colvin Award, recognizing bravery in reporting. Zahra has also received the freedom of expression award and the change maker award from the Bill Gates Foundation