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Al-Ahram Weekly
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
'The Voice of Gaza': Slain Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif (1996-2025) - War on Gaza
Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif — long regarded as 'Gaza's voice' — was killed late Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a journalists' tent outside Gaza City Hospital, along with five other reporters and his teenage nephew, according to hospital officials. The targeted airstrike killed Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qureiqa, photojournalists Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, freelance reporter Mohamed Khalidi, and al-Sharif's 19-year-old nephew, Mosaab al-Sharif, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. Minutes later, al-Sharif's verified X account published his last will and testament. "This is my last will and message. If you receive these words, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice," read the will. In the statement, dated 6 April 2025, al-Sharif reflects on his life in the Jabalia refugee camp and his work documenting Palestinian struggles amid nearly two years of an Israeli genocidal war on the strip. 'I have lived through the pain in all its details, and I have tasted pain and loss repeatedly. Despite this, I have never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without falsification or distortion...' Anas Jamal Mahmoud al-Sharif was a Palestinian journalist and videographer for Al Jazeera Arabic, widely recognized for his frontline reporting from northern Gaza during the ongoing 22-month-long genocide. For several months, the Israeli army accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative — claims international human rights organizations and Al Jazeera condemned as lies intended to justify the killing of journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had called on the international community to protect him. Born in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza in 1996, al-Sharif had aspired to be a journalist since childhood. Photos circulating on social media show a young al-Sharif, only 12 years old, watching reporters work during the 2008–2009 Gaza war. He earned a degree in mass communication, specializing in radio and television, from Al-Aqsa University, and began his career at the Al-Shamal Media Network before joining Al Jazeera. In 2024, he was part of a Reuters team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of Israel's war on Gaza. Since October 2023, al-Sharif became one of the most visible faces reporting on the war in Gaza, refusing to evacuate the north despite repeated Israeli orders and direct threats to his life. He continued daily coverage through airstrikes, massacres, and mass displacement, often working under extreme danger and severe shortages of basic supplies. His reporting provided rare and crucial testimony from one of the world's most inaccessible war zones. In early December 2023, al-Sharif cut short coverage of Israeli atrocities to bury his father, killed in an airstrike on the family home in Jabalia. "We had to bury my father in a schoolyard nearby due to the intense bombing around Jabalia," al-Sharif said at the time. "The occupation does not want the picture in Gaza to get out, but we will continue in our coverage despite the blockade." "I will continue to report on the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians in the strip until my last breath," he said, noting he had received repeated threats from the Israeli army for covering the war. In his will, al-Sharif wrote: 'God knows that I gave everything I had—every effort, every ounce of strength—to be a support and a voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and streets of the Jabalia refugee camp. I hoped that God would prolong my life so I could return with my family and loved ones to our original hometown of Asqalan (al-Majdal), now under occupation,' the will read. He added, 'I urge you to hold fast to Palestine—the crown jewel of the Muslim world and the heartbeat of every free person on this earth'. 'I urge you to remember its people, and its oppressed children who were denied the chance to dream or live in safety and peace, for their pure bodies were crushed beneath thousands of tons of Israeli bombs and missiles, torn apart, and their limbs scattered across walls.' Al-Sharif continued: 'I urge you not to let chains silence you or borders hold you back. Be bridges toward the liberation of the land and its people, until the sun of dignity and freedom rises over our usurped homeland.' 'I urge you to take care of my family, …my beloved daughter Sham, my dear son Salah, to honour my beloved mother, and my beloved wife, Umm Salah (Bayan Khaled).' Al-Sharif concluded: 'If I die, then I die steadfast upon my principles, bearing witness before God that I am content with His decree, believing in meeting Him, and certain that what is with God is better and everlasting'. 'O God, accept me among the martyrs, forgive me my past and future sins, and make my blood a light that illuminates the path of freedom for my people and my family.' The will's last line simply reads: 'Do not forget Gaza.' This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my… — أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025 Shortly after the strike, the Israeli army confirmed it had targeted al-Sharif. In a Telegram post, it claimed he served as the head of a Hamas 'terrorist cell' — an accusation mirroring a broader Israeli pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence. Al Jazeera condemned Israel's 'targeted assassination' of its journalists as a heinous crime and 'yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.' The Government Media Office in Gaza said the killings brought the number of journalists killed since the start of Israel's genocidal war on the strip to 238. On Monday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned what they described as the deliberate killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and five of his colleagues in Gaza by the Israeli army. 'In [Sunday's] deliberate attack, the Israeli army reproduced a known method already tested, notably against Al Jazeera journalists,' RSF said, referring to the killing of two reporters on 31 July last year. 'Without strong action from the international community to stop the Israeli army… we're likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals.' The CPJ also denounced the strike, saying journalists should never be targeted in war. 'Journalists are civilians. They must never be targeted in war. And to do so is a war crime,' CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg told AFP. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
San Francisco Chronicle
18-07-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Award-winning former AP photographer Jo Ann Steck is remembered for her wit and leadership
Award-winning photo journalist Jo Ann Steck — who broke barriers in male-dominated newsrooms by capturing some of the most notable moments in recent United States history — has died. She was 73. Steck died on July 11 after a yearslong battle with ovarian cancer, according to her former Associated Press colleague and longtime friend Dan Hansen. Steck's three-decade career spanning The Associated Press, The New York Times and the White House, took her all over the country and world — and thousands of miles away from where she was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She used her shrewd judgment and vision to lead teams of award-winning journalists to capture both profound joy and unspeakable tragedy alike, documenting natural disasters, the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, historic sporting events and more. But those who worked with Steck, often calling her 'Jodie,' remember her for her unique ability to lead. Steck worked for local outlets in Arizona, where she went to college at Arizona State University, before joining the AP in Los Angeles in 1980. Amy Sancetta remembers meeting Steck in 1987, when Steck led Sancetta and a small team of journalists to cover a plane crash in Detroit for the AP. Racing to the scene, Steck coordinated the team's efforts with walkie-talkies to swiftly deliver images of the heartbreaking event to the world. Despite the rush, Sancetta said, Steck never forgot to make each person feel valued. 'She saw a lot of really horrific stuff, but she found ways as a group to make us laugh and remind us of our humanity," Sancetta said. From then on, Steck became a mentor to Sancetta, who was still a relatively new employee and one of the very few women in the newsroom. Sancetta said her feelings towards Steck were not unique; Steck's bold humor, clear vision and unmistakable moxie made her a trailblazer for many young women breaking into the male-dominated field. 'As a young photographer, she found a way to make you feel like you belonged,' Sancetta said. 'She paved a path for an awful lot of us." Steck went on to work at The New York Times, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and The Orange County Register, where she ushered in a new era of digital photography, before returning to the AP. To this day, her colleagues at the AP from that time recall admiringly how well she continued to cover the biggest events across the United States, such as the O.J. Simpson murder case and the Super Bowl. Later, Steck was the deputy director of photography at The Dallas Morning News, where she led a team of photographers who earned a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2004 for coverage of the invasion in Iraq. Cheryl Diaz Meyer, one of two photographers who took the photos that won the prize, said that Steck was exceptionally methodical and made sure that all photos were presented with nuance. 'You knew that once Jodie touched it, it was good,' Meyer said. Steck's work was recognized far beyond the newsroom. She served as the White House deputy director of photography under former President George W. Bush in his second term, from 2005 to 2009. 'She got to know everybody,' recalled Dan Hansen, a photographer who worked with Steck at both the AP and the White House. Hansen said Steck would remember the names of every single person she met, ranging from interns to White House cleaning staff to high-ranking members of Bush's administration. Hansen, who met Steck when the two were students at Arizona State University in 1976, said that Steck was like that the whole time he knew her. 'She would go into a room, and she would come out with five new friends,' he said. 'Because she was so funny, she was so charming — she just had that ability.' Steck retired in Port Orange, Florida, where she was a competitive pickleball player, according to an obituary provided by her family. She is survived by her partner, Susan Matthews, and her son.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-07-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Award-winning former AP photographer Jo Ann Steck is remembered for her wit and leadership
Award-winning photo journalist Jo Ann Steck — who broke barriers in male-dominated newsrooms by capturing some of the most notable moments in recent United States history — has died. She was 73. Steck died on July 11 after a yearslong battle with ovarian cancer, according to her former Associated Press colleague and longtime friend Dan Hansen. Steck's three-decade career spanning The Associated Press, The New York Times and the White House, took her all over the country and world — and thousands of miles away from where she was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She used her shrewd judgment and vision to lead teams of award-winning journalists to capture both profound joy and unspeakable tragedy alike, documenting natural disasters, the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, historic sporting events and more. But those who worked with Steck, often calling her 'Jodie,' remember her for her unique ability to lead. Steck worked for local outlets in Arizona, where she went to college at Arizona State University, before joining the AP in Los Angeles in 1980. Amy Sancetta remembers meeting Steck in 1987, when Steck led Sancetta and a small team of journalists to cover a plane crash in Detroit for the AP. Racing to the scene, Steck coordinated the team's efforts with walkie-talkies to swiftly deliver images of the heartbreaking event to the world. Despite the rush, Sancetta said, Steck never forgot to make each person feel valued. 'She saw a lot of really horrific stuff, but she found ways as a group to make us laugh and remind us of our humanity,' Sancetta said. From then on, Steck became a mentor to Sancetta, who was still a relatively new employee and one of the very few women in the newsroom. Sancetta said her feelings towards Steck were not unique; Steck's bold humor, clear vision and unmistakable moxie made her a trailblazer for many young women breaking into the male-dominated field. 'As a young photographer, she found a way to make you feel like you belonged,' Sancetta said. 'She paved a path for an awful lot of us.' Steck went on to work at The New York Times, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and The Orange County Register, where she ushered in a new era of digital photography, before returning to the AP. To this day, her colleagues at the AP from that time recall admiringly how well she continued to cover the biggest events across the United States, such as the O.J. Simpson murder case and the Super Bowl. Later, Steck was the deputy director of photography at The Dallas Morning News, where she led a team of photographers who earned a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2004 for coverage of the invasion in Iraq. Cheryl Diaz Meyer, one of two photographers who took the photos that won the prize, said that Steck was exceptionally methodical and made sure that all photos were presented with nuance. 'You knew that once Jodie touched it, it was good,' Meyer said. Steck's work was recognized far beyond the newsroom. She served as the White House deputy director of photography under former President George W. Bush in his second term, from 2005 to 2009. 'She got to know everybody,' recalled Dan Hansen, a photographer who worked with Steck at both the AP and the White House. Hansen said Steck would remember the names of every single person she met, ranging from interns to White House cleaning staff to high-ranking members of Bush's administration. Hansen, who met Steck when the two were students at Arizona State University in 1976, said that Steck was like that the whole time he knew her. 'She would go into a room, and she would come out with five new friends,' he said. 'Because she was so funny, she was so charming — she just had that ability.' Steck retired in Port Orange, Florida, where she was a competitive pickleball player, according to an obituary provided by her family. She is survived by her partner, Susan Matthews, and her son. ___ Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Award-winning former AP photographer Jo Ann Steck is remembered for her wit and leadership
Award-winning photo journalist Jo Ann Steck — who broke barriers in male-dominated newsrooms by capturing some of the most notable moments in recent United States history — has died. She was 73. Steck died on July 11 after a yearslong battle with ovarian cancer, according to her former Associated Press colleague and longtime friend Dan Hansen. Steck's three-decade career spanning The Associated Press, The New York Times and the White House, took her all over the country and world — and thousands of miles away from where she was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She used her shrewd judgment and vision to lead teams of award-winning journalists to capture both profound joy and unspeakable tragedy alike, documenting natural disasters, the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, historic sporting events and more. But those who worked with Steck, often calling her 'Jodie,' remember her for her unique ability to lead. Steck worked for local outlets in Arizona, where she went to college at Arizona State University, before joining the AP in Los Angeles in 1980. Amy Sancetta remembers meeting Steck in 1987, when Steck led Sancetta and a small team of journalists to cover a plane crash in Detroit for the AP. Racing to the scene, Steck coordinated the team's efforts with walkie-talkies to swiftly deliver images of the heartbreaking event to the world. Despite the rush, Sancetta said, Steck never forgot to make each person feel valued. 'She saw a lot of really horrific stuff, but she found ways as a group to make us laugh and remind us of our humanity,' Sancetta said. From then on, Steck became a mentor to Sancetta, who was still a relatively new employee and one of the very few women in the newsroom. Sancetta said her feelings towards Steck were not unique; Steck's bold humor, clear vision and unmistakable moxie made her a trailblazer for many young women breaking into the male-dominated field. 'As a young photographer, she found a way to make you feel like you belonged,' Sancetta said. 'She paved a path for an awful lot of us.' Steck went on to work at The New York Times, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and The Orange County Register, where she ushered in a new era of digital photography, before returning to the AP. To this day, her colleagues at the AP from that time recall admiringly how well she continued to cover the biggest events across the United States, such as the O.J. Simpson murder case and the Super Bowl. Later, Steck was the deputy director of photography at The Dallas Morning News, where she led a team of photographers who earned a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2004 for coverage of the invasion in Iraq. Cheryl Diaz Meyer, one of two photographers who took the photos that won the prize, said that Steck was exceptionally methodical and made sure that all photos were presented with nuance. 'You knew that once Jodie touched it, it was good,' Meyer said. Steck's work was recognized far beyond the newsroom. She served as the White House deputy director of photography under former President George W. Bush in his second term, from 2005 to 2009. 'She got to know everybody,' recalled Dan Hansen, a photographer who worked with Steck at both the AP and the White House. Hansen said Steck would remember the names of every single person she met, ranging from interns to White House cleaning staff to high-ranking members of Bush's administration. Hansen, who met Steck when the two were students at Arizona State University in 1976, said that Steck was like that the whole time he knew her. 'She would go into a room, and she would come out with five new friends,' he said. 'Because she was so funny, she was so charming — she just had that ability.' Steck retired in Port Orange, Florida, where she was a competitive pickleball player, according to an obituary provided by her family. She is survived by her partner, Susan Matthews, and her son. ___ Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MAGA world sees red after iconic Trump assassination attempt photo snubbed for Pulitzer Prize: ‘So telling'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Supporters of President Trump are seeing red after the iconic 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' photo taken moments after he narrowly survived an assassination attempt last summer was snubbed by Pulitzer Prize judges. The photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci, captured the heroic moment the then-candidate stood up after being struck by an assassin's bullet at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pa. — yelling 'Fight! Fight! Fight!.' with his fist raised and his face bloodied before he was ushered offstage. 'Evan Vucci's photograph of Donald Trump after last summer's assassination attempt is iconic — maybe the single most famous photo of the past decade,' conservative influencer Charlie Kirk wrote on X. 'Because it made Trump look good, the Pulitzer Prize committee just refused to give it the award for best breaking news photograph of 2024,' conservative influencer Charlie Kirk said. 'Total joke.' AP 'But because it made Trump look good, the Pulitzer Prize committee just refused to give it the award for best breaking news photograph of 2024,' Kirk wrote, adding, 'Total joke.' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) also felt that biased jurists were at work on the Pulitzer committee. 'So telling and tragic,' Lee wrote on X. Other conservatives online agreed that the photo was snubbed because it made Trump look too good — which worried liberals during the lead up to the election. One photo editor at a major news outlet feared the historic photo would be used as propaganda for the MAGA movement that could 'further their agenda.' Photographer Evan Vucci captured the iconic photo at the July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Pa. Getty Images That anonymous editor claimed that it was 'dangerous for media organizations to keep sharing' the photos 'despite how good' they are, Axios reported. The Pulitzer for Breaking News Photography was awarded to New York Times photographer Doug Mills, for his work at the same rally. Mills won the honor for snaps that captured the split-second a bullet fired by Thomas Crooks, 20, whizzed by the head of Trump as he spoke at the podium. New York Times photographer Doug Mills won the Pulitzer for his coverage of the Butler assassination attempt, which included a photo of the bullet whizzing by Trump's head. via REUTERS 'I just happened to be down, shooting with a wide-angle lens just below the president when he was speaking. There was a huge flag waving right above his head, and I just happened to be taking pictures at the same time,' Mills told Fox News days after the first assassination attempt on Trump. 'Then, when I heard the pops, I guess I kept hitting on the shutter, and then I saw him reach for his [ear]. He grimaced and grabbed his hand and looked. It was blood, and then he went down, and I thought, 'Dear God, he's been shot,'' Mills said. Mills revealed to Fox News that he used a Sony a1 camera to capture the Pulitzer-winning photos.
