News

AMEJA has formed five volunteer committees to focus on a number of areas to help the organization advance its mission. The committees include: mentorship, events, resource development, digital and fundraising. If you are a member and interested in joining one of the committees, email: board@ameja.org

AMEJA members attended the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) conference in Denver, including several who were panel speakers. Pictured from the right: Karen Zraick (NYT), Hoda Osman (ARIJ, France 24), Adam Yahya Rayes (KUNC), Robyn Vincent (KUNC), Maurice Chammah (The Marshall Project), Mariam Elba (ProPublica) Missing: ​​Samah Assad (CBS Chicago), Sewell Chan (Texas Tribune), Melanie Asmar (Chalkbeat).

 

AMEJA is excited to announce that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rory Peck Trust, a UK-based non-profit organization “dedicated to the support, safety and welfare of freelance newsgatherers around the world.” RPT has several grants available to freelancers. AMEJA and RPT also plan to hold joint training workshops and events.

AMEJA Issues Statement Regarding the Killing of Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

• AMEJA issued a statement about the killing of Palestinian-American journalists Shireen Abu Akleh. Shireen and her colleagues were wearing press vests and helmets and were clearly identifiable as journalists. AMEJA joins other organizations in demanding a transparent and independent investigation into what led to Shireen’s death. You can read the full statement here .

AMEJA board member Karen Zraick won the prestigious June Sidney award for her coverage of a lethal construction site in New York City. Karen won the award along with her colleague Dan Barry for exposing the most lethal construction site in New York City through their NYT story 20 Men Lost to 20 Bruckner Boulevard

• AMEJA started a members-only, weekly newsletter containing a compilation of numerous job openings at various organizations and other opportunities, including fellowships and award submissions. The newsletter is emailed to members every Friday.

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• AMEJA issued a statement calling on news organizations to be mindful of implicit and explicit bias in their coverage of war in Ukraine. This was in reaction to several comments by news reporters comparing Ukrainian refugees to those from Arab and Middle Eastern countries, while referring to the former as being “civilized” and “like us.”  Read the full statement here. 

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• The Washington Post has announced that Kareem Fahim, an AMEJA co-founder and former board member, has been named Middle East bureau chief. In his new role, Kareem will be responsible for coverage of Syria, Lebanon and the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

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• AMEJA and The New York Times Arab Collective held a mixer for AMEJA and Arab Collective members in October,, 2022 at the Egyptian restaurant Zooba in New York city. The event was attended by over 30 members.