Daniel Pearl Foundation pays tributes to journalist Aoun Sahi

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published May 05, 2016

LOS ANGELES: The Daniel Pearl Foundation (www.danielpearl.org) is proud to announce that Aoun Sahi, a Daniel Pearl/Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellow in 2010, was a member of the Los Angeles Times reporting team that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in connection with its coverage of last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino.

Reporting from Islamabad for the Times' front page stories, Mr. Sahi was the first to report on Tashfeen Malik's radicalization process, including her studies of a fundamentalist strain of Islam in Pakistan and extremist Facebook messages. His on-the-ground reporting played a key role in the Times' coverage.

Mr. Sahi stated, "This wonderful recognition is the result of a team effort by a number of dedicated and courageous reporters backed by talented and supportive editors. I am particularly proud that my profile of the "Saudi girl" was one of the main prizewinning entries."

In an email to Dr. and Mrs. Pearl informing them of the Pulitzer Prize, Mr. Sahi expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to work with an American newsroom as a Daniel Pearl Journalism Fellow. "In a very real sense, the Pearls are responsible for my receiving this very special honor."

"I would like to dedicate this achievement to two courageous journalists. First, to Daniel Pearl, who was brutally murdered by terrorists while pursuing a story, and second to my late older brother, Asad Sahi (a senior journalist) who was my mentor, friend and inspiration. He died last year in April. I received notification of this recognition exactly one year after his death. He would have been so pleased," Mr. Sahi added.

"We could not be more delighted for the well-deserved recognition that Aoun has received," stated Dr. and Mrs. Pearl. "He has been like family to us and we are extremely pleased that his time as a Daniel Pearl Journalism Fellow played a role in his growth and development as an award-winning journalist."

"Many former Daniel Pearl Fellows have distinguished themselves by their achievements as journalists committed to reporting the facts, often in the face of tremendous obstacles and at personal risk," Dr. and Mrs. Pearl added.

Mr. Sahi was selected as a Daniel Pearl/Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellow in 2010 and worked as a reporter for five months at The Wall Street Journal's Atlanta bureau. In 2011 he became a special correspondent for The Times of London and the Los Angeles Times in Islamabad. He won successive journalism awards from the International Labor Organization in 2014 and 2015. He is currently Editor/Bureau Chief for Channel 24 in Islamabad, as well as a Los Angeles Times Special Correspondent, a Pakistan representative for Prince Steer International Films, a Los Angeles based film company, and has contributed articles to the Washington Post. - Source: The Daniel Pearl Foundation

Related post from JournalismPakistan.com Archives:

International honor for Pakistani journalist Aoun Sahi

Aoun Sahi joins Channel 24 as Islamabad Bureau Chief

Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning

 April 11, 2025:  Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.

AJK government registers case against newspaper and staff

 April 10, 2025:  The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.

Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges FIA threats, possible arrest over reporting

 April 08, 2025:  Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.

Noorani’s missing brothers: Court orders IG to produce individuals

 April 07, 2025:  The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.

Journalist Farhan Mallick granted bail

 April 07, 2025:  Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.

Ghulam Abbas Shah joins Discover Pakistan as Head of Programming

 April 03, 2025:  Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.

PFUJ condemns Pakistani journalists' visit to Israel as an ethical violation

 April 02, 2025:  The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.

Can films fight terrorism? Dawn raises doubts

 March 30, 2025:  Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?