An Award that Celebrates Career, Community and Camaraderie

The Coalition For Women in Journalism is proud to present the Kathy Gannon Legacy Awards 2024 in London, United Kingdom, this year. The awards were presented on November 28, 2024, at the Rory Peck Awards on their 30th anniversary. The KGLA celebrates the remarkable career of journalist Kathy Gannon and one of her key qualities, i.e. looking out for her colleagues. The CFWIJ honored two outstanding women journalists, Saima Mohsin and Leila Moana-Allen, recognizing their courage, dedication, and contributions to the field of journalism as well as their contribution to the community of fellow journalists.

While presenting the awards, CFWIJ Founding Director Kiran Nazish thanked the Rory Peck Trust for their support and shone a light on the evening’s purpose: to honor Kathy Gannon’s remarkable legacy of people-centered storytelling and her commitment to mentoring women journalists.

In addition to her long career, Saima Mohsin was celebrated for her fight for justice for journalists injured on the frontlines, a cause close to Kathy’s heart after her own injury in 2014. Leila Molana-Allen, hailed for her fearless reporting and efforts to provide safety training for journalists covering conflict zones. Both women exemplify Gannon’s enduring values of integrity, courage, and mentorship.

Kathy Gannon, joined the evening via video message, praised the winners, Saima and Leila for their commitment to truth and their ability to inspire through their actions.

“This award is about humanity in reporting,” Gannon remarked, “and both winners embody the essence of journalism’s higher purpose.”

Saima Mohsin: Strength and Justice

Leila Molana-Allen: Compassion and Community

Leila Molana-Allen’s speech centered on humanity and resilience. She spoke about the privilege of witnessing the strength of people in the face of conflict and tragedy, reflecting on the power and responsibility of journalism.

“We know that it's our local producers on the ground who make our stories,” Molana-Allen said. “It’s those connections that allow me to produce such intimate reporting. So, it’s them—our local producers—and the people in our stories that I want to thank most. The people who welcomed me into their homes on the worst days of their lives and gave me their trust.”

She also honored journalists in Gaza, praising their immense courage as they continue to report despite extreme personal risks. “They won’t stop, because if they do, there will be silence,” she said, leaving a profound impact on the audience.

Molana-Allen’s commitment to training journalists in safety protocols reflects her dedication to building a stronger, safer community of reporters. Her speech echoed this dedication, serving as a heartfelt call to action and reminding everyone of the shared responsibility to protect and support those in the field.


  • Joanna Chiu is a senior journalist for the  Toronto Star, and the author of China Unbound: A New World Disorder and an expert on China. She was previously based in different parts of Asia, including Beijing, specializing in coverage of Chinese politics, economy and legal affairs in the region. In Hong Kong, she reported for the South China Morning Post, The Economist magazine and The Associated Press. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, and Newsweek. Chiu is a frequent contributor to CBC, BBC World, Al Jazeera, and NPR and has worked as a foreign correspondent for top news agencies including Agence France-Presse and Deutsche Presse-Agentur. In 2012, she won a Human Rights Press Award for her story on refugees in Hong Kong. China Unbound: A New World Disorder is her first book. In her coverage she tactfully bridges the gap between intricate local context and distant foreign glance at the story.

    We recognize Joanna for her incredible capacity to make complex stories on an important region and country, accessible to readers globally. Often in her work Joanna has encountered high-risk situations, but she has continued to find creative ways of shedding light on the human rights abuses of China and the wide spillover it has on the regional and global community.

    With this award, we recognize Joanna as a passionate connector with her work as chair of the NüVoices. An editorial collective that celebrates the creative and academic work of women working on the subject of China. As a journalist covering human rights and women’s issues in Greater China since 2012, Joanna Chiu has used her connections with countless talented female academics, journalists and writers producing insightful work on these subjects to help produce this platform called NüVoices. At CFWIJ we value camaraderie and Joanna's work is demonstrative of that.

Saima Mohsin’s acceptance speech reflected on her 30 years in journalism. She spoke candidly about the highs and lows of her journey, recalling her injury and ongoing legal battle for justice. She spoke powerfully of the need for better protections and rights for journalists working in dangerous environments.

“I’m not just doing this for me,” Mohsin told the audience, her voice steady with resolve. “I’m doing this for all of us—those of us who risk our lives working in the field, those who have lost their lives, and those who have been injured and continue to live with those injuries.”

She expressed gratitude to Sky News for bringing her back to the newsroom and dedicated her award to all journalists who risk their lives in the field. Her closing words were both poignant and empowering: “As journalists, we are meant to be the voice for the voiceless. I hope what I am doing encourages others to fight for their rights too.”


  • Joanna Chiu is a senior journalist for the  Toronto Star, and the author of China Unbound: A New World Disorder and an expert on China. She was previously based in different parts of Asia, including Beijing, specializing in coverage of Chinese politics, economy and legal affairs in the region. In Hong Kong, she reported for the South China Morning Post, The Economist magazine and The Associated Press. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, and Newsweek. Chiu is a frequent contributor to CBC, BBC World, Al Jazeera, and NPR and has worked as a foreign correspondent for top news agencies including Agence France-Presse and Deutsche Presse-Agentur. In 2012, she won a Human Rights Press Award for her story on refugees in Hong Kong. China Unbound: A New World Disorder is her first book. In her coverage she tactfully bridges the gap between intricate local context and distant foreign glance at the story.

    We recognize Joanna for her incredible capacity to make complex stories on an important region and country, accessible to readers globally. Often in her work Joanna has encountered high-risk situations, but she has continued to find creative ways of shedding light on the human rights abuses of China and the wide spillover it has on the regional and global community.

    With this award, we recognize Joanna as a passionate connector with her work as chair of the NüVoices. An editorial collective that celebrates the creative and academic work of women working on the subject of China. As a journalist covering human rights and women’s issues in Greater China since 2012, Joanna Chiu has used her connections with countless talented female academics, journalists and writers producing insightful work on these subjects to help produce this platform called NüVoices. At CFWIJ we value camaraderie and Joanna's work is demonstrative of that.

A Memorable Evening of Gratitude

Gratitude to the Rory Peck Trust

About the Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a New York based global peer-support and press freedom advocacy organization. 

The work of women, non-binary and minority journalists is critical to our times. These journalists are exposing the truth and often in a tumultuous world, are bringing forth opportunities for justice, equity and accountability with gallant, undaunted journalism. 

But this journalism often comes at a cost, particularly for women and minority journalists. Each year, hundreds of women journalists face abuse, harassment, imprisonment, and even murder for doing their job. The Coalition For Women In Journalism monitors and documents any violation that takes place against any female or non binary journalist around the world. It is our pursuit to account for every single violation, because information brings a better understanding of our world, our democracies and the state of humanity.

Since 2019, the CFWIJ has supported and advocated for more than 2,000 women journalists who have encountered such circumstances across 128 countries. 

Our work has led to global impact in press freedom and safety for women and non-binary journalists, including legal support for journalists behind bars that has led to releases from jail, and government-stakeholder advocacy that has helped journalism protection laws in several countries. The CFWIJ Emergency Relief work includes advocacy support and a survival fund that helps women journalists from the most vulnerable backgrounds. CFWIJ's work has led to more than 600 evacuations, relocations, legal support and mental health therapy for women and LGBTQ journalists from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran, Mexico, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Turkey. A link to our annual Report 2022. 

At the CFWIJ our mission is to foster and support camaraderie between journalists around the globe so they can continue to take on the daunting task of truth telling in a safe and supportive environment. You can join us in this mission and help elevate change-driven courageous journalism. 

Reach out to explore how you can help. You can also join us through Volunteer work or Donations.

The Kathy Gannon Legacy Awards not only celebrated the achievements of Saima Mohsin and Leila Molana Allen but also displayed the collective efforts of organizations like the CFWIJ and the Rory Peck Trust in supporting women journalists.

Kiran Nazish’s  remarks encapsulated the spirit of the evening: “This is not just an award; it is a celebration of courage, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of truth.”

Congratulations to Saima Mohsin and Leila Molana Allen for their remarkable contributions to journalism, and heartfelt thanks to the Rory Peck Trust for graciously and generously hosting the CFWIJ.


We are deeply thankful to our friends at Rory Peck Trust for hosting our awards this year in London at the Annual Rory Peck Awards.