Announcing the Heikal Prize for Arab Journalism
** The following announcement is published as a service to readers who may be interested in applying for the prize. We will carry the application announcement when it is made public later this year.
“How can the profession, in the current circumstances, serve as the last feather in the wing capable of flying in such turbulent weather? Perhaps it can discharge its share of responsibility by discovering an open corridor leading to the future.”
Mohamed Hassanein Heikal
“A Declaration, an apology and an Appeal”
Al-Ahram, 20 October 2014
Mohammed Hassanein Heikal was proud to describe himself succinctly: “A newspaper man,” he would say. In his appeal to the members of a profession he reshaped in the course of his journalistic career, Mr. Heikal placed the burden of a weighty responsibility on the shoulders of journalists both present and future — the responsibility to have a positive impact on Arab countries and societies.
It is with this in mind that the Mohamed Hassanein Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism is proud to announce the creation of The Heikal Prize for Arab Journalism in his memory. The Prize will be open to practitioners of the profession in all forms of media (print and digital). The award will recognize outstanding professionals under the age of forty; like Mr. Heikal’s own work, prize winners will be recognized for news reports and analysis pieces that spark debate and for investigative pieces that thrust issues into the public spotlight.
Two annual prizes of EGP 250,000 each will be awarded on 23 September (the date of Mr. Heikal’s birthday) for:
- News Story of the Year
- Investigative Story of the Year
The Foundation welcomes applications from Arab journalists under the age of 40 writing for any newspaper, magazine or website. The Selection Committee reserves the right to independently consider any candidate who is a citizen of an Arab nation.
Applications will be received for a three-month period beginning 1 January every year. The Selection Committee will be nominated by the members of the Board of Directors of the Mohamed Hassanein Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism in consultation with its advisory committee.
The Foundation will announce the formal application process later this fall.