The Danish Siddiqui Foundation announces the launch of the Danish Siddiqui Journalism Award, an annual award honoring impactful journalism. This prestigious award recognizes journalists who uphold the journalistic values of courage, integrity, empathy and truth in their reporting.
Danish Siddiqui, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, was renowned for his fearless storytelling and eloquent imagery. As Chief Photographer and Head of Reuters multimedia team in India, Danish’s powerful images carried deep meanings covering a broad spectrum of the society, shedding light on the often-overlooked toll of conflicts in some of the most challenging locations in the world. His evocative photos and storytelling earned global acclaim, earning him a 2018 Pulitzer Prize for documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis and a posthumous 2021 Pulitzer Prize for the COVID19 pandemic coverage in India. Danish was tragically killed while reporting in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on July 16,2021, yet his legacy endures, inspiring journalists to pursue impactful journalism with courage and conviction.
A distinguished jury will evaluate nominations, including Rajdeep Sardesai, senior journalist and author; Vaishna Roy, editor of Frontline; Kishalay Bhattacharjee, dean of Jindal School of Journalism and Communication; and Gabrielle Fonseca, South Asia editor at Reuters Pictures.
Speaking about the award, Rajdeep Sardesai said “I am honored to be a part of a jury to decide on the awards that are being instituted in the name of Danish Siddiqui, a photojournalist, who in the truest sense of words, represented the best values of journalism. Danish with his ground reporting, with his photography stood for courage, he stood for truth, he stood for empathy. I would encourage all journalists out there to apply for the award and celebrate Danish’s legacy by doing the kind of meaningful, impactful work that we would like to honor and recognize”
The award is open to Indian journalists including foreign correspondents based in India, recognizing excellence across print, photojournalism, digital, and broadcast. Eligible stories must have been published between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Nominations will be judged on relevance, impact, and ethical rigor with a focus on stories that present fresh perspectives and untold narratives.
The nomination deadline is March 31, 2025, and the award ceremony will be held on May 4,2025, in New Delhi. For more details and to submit nominations, visit https://dsfasia.org/dsjaward/
Prof. Akhtar Siddiqui, a board member of the Foundation, emphasized “Danish saw journalism as a bridge to humanity’s conscience, and its job to be a mirror showing the truth as it is. By instituting this award, we want to recognize the valuable role of journalists in shaping our society and honor those who report from the front with the utmost sincerity and integrity.”
The Danish Siddiqui Foundation is committed to preserving Danish’s legacy by fostering excellence in journalism. Through scholarships, exhibitions, mentorship and key initiatives, the foundation empowers journalists to pursue impactful, ethical storytelling.
