Umar Manzoor was recognized for his story on Children living near LOC
Srinagar, June 10: Freelance Kashmiri journalist Umar Manzoor Shah has won a Europe’s top most Journalism award-Lorenzo Natali Media Prize 2017- awarded by European Commission on June 7 at Brussels.
Shah, who won the prize in the Asia Pacific amateur category, was recognized for his story on Children living along the Line of Control and how they are maimed by the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
The European Commission this year awarded Lorenzo Natali Media Prize to ten best amateur and professional journalists across the world for outstanding reporting on development, poverty eradication and freedom of religion. The Award Ceremony took place in Brussels during the European Development Days (EDD) on 7 June. The winners were been selected by an independent jury who are experts in the fields of development, journalism and human rights. Umar was awarded by Nazila Ghanea, Associate Professor at University of Oxford.
Shah, who was born in Srinagar, the state capital, graduated in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2009 at the University of Kashmir and has since been pursuing a career as a freelance journalist.
Writing for several press outlets such as ucanews.com, Inter Press Service and the Doha Centre for Media Freedom, his stories cover mostly social issues in war-conflicted areas, giving a voice to affected populations.