The Express Tribune named finalists for 2016 Online Journalism Awards

Tribune Labs’ For Peshawar has been recognized by the Online News Association

The Express Tribune has been shortlisted for the 2016 Online Journalism Awards, becoming one of the few non-US publications to be named finalists, which were announced by the Online News Association (ONA) on Tuesday.

For Peshawar has been nominated in the ‘Planned News/Events’ category. A joint collaboration of The Express Tribune and the ICFJ-Knight Fellowship, the story was published on December 16, 2015, on the anniversary of the country’s worst terrorist attack, at the Army Public School Peshawar, in which 147 people lost their lives.

The story is an online memorial for the victims, as well as an in-depth analysis on how events unfolded on December 16, 2014, and what has happened in the year that followed.

“Encouragement from our peers across the world makes all the hard work worthwhile. We want to dedicate this nomination to all those who lost their lives in the Army Public School attack,” said The Express Tribune publisher Bilal Lakhani.

"All of us at the Tribune are very excited over the shortlisting of our story on the Peshawar massacre,” said The Express Tribune Editor Kamal Siddiqi.

“It was a difficult and heart-wrenching story to do but as journalists, it is our job to tell the story as best as we can. In this, the work done by our Labs team was outstanding and we are proud to be the only South Asian news organisation to be shortlisted. For us, this recognition will encourage us to do even more path-breaking work in the days to come."

Launched in 2000, the OJAs are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism.

According to the ONA, “These awards honor data journalism, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, public service, technical innovation, student journalism and general excellence.”

“The range of this year’s finalists is truly remarkable,” said David Smydra, ONA Board member and Online Journalism Awards Committee Chair. “In so many respects — newsroom size, geography, subject matter, platform, technology, storytelling techniques and more — judges were extremely impressed by the full scope and achievements of digital journalists across the industry.”

A group of 76 industry-leading journalists and new media professionals teamed up to screen 1,029 entries and select semi-finalists. Twenty judges representing a diverse cross-section of the industry then conferred to determine finalists and winners.

The winners will be announced at the 2016 ONA Conference and Online Journalism Awards Banquet on September 17, in the United States.