Mada Masr receives Canada-UK Media Freedom Award for ‘commitment to high-quality independent journalism’

The 2023 Canada-United Kingdom Media Freedom Award was presented to Mada Masr for “its extraordinary commitment to high-quality independent journalism,” the United Kingdom and Canada announced in joint press releases yesterday.

In their respective statements, Global Affairs Canada and the British Foreign Office highlighted Mada Masr’s commitment to continue reporting despite “a takedown of their website and legal threats to its reporters.”

The award, both stated, signals the UK and Canada’s  enduring commitment to supporting free and independent journalism.

The award was presented during the fourth event of the Media Freedom Coalition in New York by James Kariuki, the deputy permanent representative of the UK to the UN, and Robert Ray, the ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the UN.

Mada Masr Editor in Chief Lina Atallah received the award as a representative of the site.

The award was presented during the fourth event of the Media Freedom Coalition in New York, by James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN and Robert Ray, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN in New York. 

“I’m delighted to honor the work of the editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, and her team, who have upheld these ideals under great pressure. I hope independent media around the world will take this as a signal that we will always support them," added Kariuki.

The UK-Canada Media Freedom Award was established in 2020, honoring those committed to democratic principles and freedom of expression.

“Media freedom is central to democratic societies, and essential to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It takes courage and conviction to be among those on the frontlines advocating for our human rights and defending against efforts to undermine them,” Ray stated.

As a winner of the joint UK-Canada Media Freedom Award in 2023, Mada Masr joins previous recipients of the award: 2022 winner Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang and the 2020 winner the Belarusian Association of Journalists.