July 26, 2007

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is spearheading The Citizens Archive of Pakistan and the Shanaakht Festival being held in Karachi from the 11th to the 14th of August. Details at: www.citizensarchive.org

Broadcast Journalist of the Year: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

July 19, 2007

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is the youngest ever winner of the Broadcast Journalist of the Year award.

Her documentary ‘The New Apartheid’ is a remarkable documentation of how South Africa deals with the increasing number of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Zimbabwe who attempt to escape Mugabe’s regime. Many South Africans blame the increasing crime rates and unemployment on the Zimbabwean immigrants and this documentary reveals the growing violence perpetuated by racism and xenophobia.

Sharmeen speaks to South African border police on the look out for illegal immigrantsThe jury said:

“Shameen Obaid-Chinoy has a style all of her own. Her report from South Africa was a dramatic piece of television but it was also a very even-handed exposition of the problems caused by migration in Southern Africa. She is broadcaster of great presence who hits a story from every angle to communicate directly with her audience.”

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said:

“The one world media award is particularly dear to me because of what it represents. Its testimony to the fact that international journalism is essential, that stories from across the global have value and that if we persevere the story will make an impact.

I was born and raised in Pakistan, where a woman has to scream out loud to have any chance of being heard! My mother always told me to write, to lobby and to hammer away at an issue until a solution was found. I have carried that advice with me from Afghanistan to East Timor, in search of stories that are often swept under the carpet. I look for the voices of the ordinary men and women on the streets that are drowned out by politics and politicians. To me that is the work of an international journalist, and to be honest, finding and bringing those stories to television screens is what I strive for.”

July 19, 2007

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy spoke to Michele Norris on NPR’s “All Things Considered” about the political situation in Pakistan.

July 16, 2007

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy will be speaking to CBC Radio “As it Happens” on Monday July 16th about the current political situation in Pakistan.