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January 20, 2026 – General –
Mohammed R. Mhawish, an award-winning Palestinian journalist and writer from Gaza City, has been selected as a Knight Press Freedom Fellow by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY), a prestigious recognition of his reporting and advocacy in conflict zones. The announcement was made on January 20, 2026, underscoring Mhawish’s contributions to global journalism and the protection of press freedom.
Mhawish is widely recognised for his exceptional work documenting life in the Gaza Strip, with his reporting featured in leading international outlets including The New Yorker, New York Magazine, MSNBC, This American Life, The Economist, The Nation, and Al Jazeera English. His body of work includes investigative and long-form journalism that has illuminated humanitarian crises and technological and social dynamics under conditions of war and occupation.
The Knight Press Freedom Fellowship is part of CUNY’s Journalism Protection Initiative, a programme designed to support journalists who face intimidation, censorship, or threats of violence in the course of their work. As a fellow, Mhawish will engage in teaching and collaborative projects with students, deliver public talks on press freedom, and work with U.S. partners to enhance physical and digital security strategies for journalists operating in high-risk environments. The initiative aims to fortify press freedoms globally by equipping journalists with tools and platforms to continue vital reporting.
Mhawish’s selection reflects both his individual achievements and the broader challenges confronting journalists in conflict and crisis settings. He has received multiple awards for his journalism, including the Izzy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Media, the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism, the Neal Conan Prize for Excellence in Journalism, and honours from the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association. In 2025, he was named Storyteller of the Year by the Institute for Middle East Understanding.
The Knight Press Freedom Fellowship places emphasis not only on recognition but also on building practical capacities: fellows are provided access to academic resources, legal expertise, and safety networks that support their continued work despite threats or repression. Mhawish’s appointment to this fellowship signals international support for journalists reporting under severe constraints, and highlights the essential role of independent media in documenting conflict and holding power to account.
By elevating the work of journalists like Mhawish, the fellowship contributes to ongoing efforts to protect press freedom and encourage resilient journalism globally, especially in regions where reporting is most perilous.
Reference –
Award-Winning Palestinian Journalist Mohammed R. Mhawish Named Knight Press Freedom Fellow
