NEW YORK: Egyptian blogger Wael Abbas has been awarded the 2007 Knight International Award for Civic Journalism by the Washington-based nonprofit International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the organization stated in a recent press release. The award, which is funded the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, recognizes individuals who have "raised the standards of media excellence in their countries. Along with fellow Burmese winner journalist May Thingyan Hein, Abbas will be honored by the organization at a high-level awards dinner in Washington DC this November. The dinner will reportedly feature several esteemed keynote speakers including renowned journalist Bob Woodruff. A prominent member of Egypt's vibrant blogosphere, Abbas is the first internet blogger and also the first Egyptian to win the award. His popular weblog Misr Digital, "Egyptian Awareness, regularly features stories on controversial topics such as violent demonstrations, alleged police brutality, and torture in Egypt. His reports, videos, and photographs have attracted the attention of major international news networks and rights groups. "The award is a testament to Abbas' devotion to the craft of journalism in the face of overwhelming challenges and recognizes his efforts to promote high quality, independent media in Egypt, ICFJ stated in the press release. For Abbas himself, the award came as a total surprise. "I did not expect to win the prize. Of course, it feels good to win an international prize such as the Knight Award, he told Daily News Egypt in an email interview. Patrick Butler, vice president of ICFJ, told Daily News Egypt that Abbas was awarded the prize for his "outstanding journalism. "Abbas is one who seeks to apply journalistic standards to his blogging. Importantly, his reporting is objective and doesn't express opinion unlike many other blogs. We are in a new era of journalism where traditional media at times lacks the necessary freedom to report independently. Reporters such as Abbas fill that void, Butler told Daily News Egypt. The event comes at a particularly interesting time as national and international rights groups express deep worries over a supposed deteriorating state of freedom of expression in Egypt. Alleged assaults and restrictive measures placed on Egypt's outspoken bloggers have earned Egypt top spots on the black lists of several press freedom groups in the last year, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders. Abbas, who claims to have been subject to arrest and interrogation by the government because of his hard-hitting reports, hopes that the award will serve as a wake up call to the Egyptian government on the issue. "I hope this will make the Egyptian government wake up and start making the right decisions. However, with the recent crackdowns on bloggers it is hard to predict the future, he argued. Furthermore, Abbas urges young Egyptians to step up and speak out. "I sure do hope more youth get involved and start speaking their minds on the conditions in this country. Blogging in Egypt is crucial as it provides a voice to those otherwise lacking it, he stressed.
