Umar Cheema of The News wins Asia Society honour
NEW YORK: The Asia Society has ranked Umar Cheema’s tax report on Pakistani politicians as the 2nd best piece of investigative journalism produced in Asia during the year 2012.
The jury has declared the tax report as “impactful work.” Asia Society recognises every year a group of journalists for producing a work that leaves a lasting impact for years to come initiating a public policy debate like never before.
A team of reporters for New York-based Bloomberg News has been declared winner. Investigative journalist for The News, Umar Cheema is ranked 2nd for his report “Taxation without Representation,” released from the platform of the Center for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan (CIRP). The investigation into the politicians’ taxes conducted for the first time anywhere in the world found that 70 percent lawmakers do not file tax returns sparking resentment inside and outside the work triggering a policy debate and reforms.
An Indian journalist stood third and Chinese journalist seized fourth position. The team of reporters of Bloomberg News that stood first will get Osborn Elliott (OZ) Prize for Excellence in Journalism in Asia, a cash prize of $10,000.
The “Oz Prize” honors the late Osborn Elliott, legendary journalist, author and former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. Elliott was a leading figure in the field of journalism who became one of the earliest practitioners of “civic journalism”-the deliberate focusing of the journalistic enterprise on urgent issues of public policy. The Oz Prize is awarded annually for the best example of written journalism about Asia during the calendar year.
Previous winners have included April Rabkin, Fast Company (2012), Keith Bradsher of The New York Times (2010), a team of writers from the International Herald Tribune (2009), Shai Oster of The Wall Street Journal (2008), Evan Osnos of the Chicago Tribune (2007), Barbara Demick of the Los Angeles Times and Matthew McAllester of Newsday (2006), Philip P. Pan of The Washington Post (2005), John Pomfret of The Washington Post (2004) and Elisabeth Rosenthal of The New York Times (2003).
The Oz Prize jury is made up of Norman Pearlstine, Chief Content Officer, Bloomberg LP and former Editor-in-Chief of Time, Inc. (recusing his vote); Marcus Brauchli, Vice President, The Washington Post Co.; Susan Chira, Assistant Managing Editor for News, The New York Times; Barbara Crossette, UN Correspondent, The Nation; Dorinda Elliott, Deputy Editor, Special Projects, Condé Nast Traveler; Michael Elliott, President and CEO, ONE foundation and former Deputy Managing Editor, TIME; Rana Foroohar, Assistant Managing Editor, TIME; Richard McGregor, Washington Bureau Chief, Financial Times; Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Senior Editor, Hindustan Times; Carla Anne Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations and former Deputy Editorial Page Editor,The New York Times; and Anthony Spaeth, Chief Editor, Korea JoongAng Daily.
Source: The News
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