Indian-origin journalist Megha Rajagopalan has won the US' top journalism award, the Pulitzer Prize, for innovative investigative reports harnessing satellite technology that exposed China's mass detention camps for Muslim Uighurs and other minority ethnicites.
The award in the international reporting category that she shared with two colleagues from an internet media, BuzzFeed News, was announced on Friday by the Pulitzer Board.
Megha and her colleagues used satellite imagery and 3D architectural simulations to support the interviews with two dozen former prisoners from Muslims of Uighur and other minority ethnicities’ detention camps.
She told that when the awards were announced she wasn’t even watching the show as she hasn’t expected the prize. she said, “I’m in complete shock, I did not expect this.”
This is the 105th year of the Pulitzer Prizes awarded by a board at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in New York recognising the outstanding work.
Also Read: Pulitzer Award to Darnella Frazier, the teen who filmed George Floyd’s murder
BuzzFeed News said, Rajagopalan was barred from China because of her story and to interview the former prisoners she traveled to the neighboring country Kazhakstan. "In response, the government tried to silence her, revoking her visa and ejecting her from the country," BuzzFeed News wrote in its entry for the prize. The news organization further said, “Throughout her reporting, Megha had to endure harassment from the Chinese government.”
Their series, Xinjiang provided proof against the Chinese government for violation of Uighur’s human rights and won the Pulitzer Prize 2021.
Along with Megha Rajagopalan, one more Indian-origin journalist won the Pulitzer Prize 2021. He is Neil Bedi, who won the award in the local reporting (investigation) category. He won the prize for his story, written by him and an editor at Tampa Bay Times, which exposed the misuse of authority by a law enforcement official in Florida to track children.
Neil Bedi has a degree in computer science, is now a Washington-based reporter and is working as an investigative reporter for the Tampa Bay Times.
The Board said, “Bedi and Kathleen McGrory were given their award for exposing how a powerful and politically connected sheriff built a secretive intelligence operation that harassed residents and used grades and children welfare records to profile school children.”
Also Read: SAD-BSP announce alliance ahead of Punjab Polls, Mayawati's party to contest 20 seats
This year, a special non-journalist award is also given to a teenager, Darnella Frazier who recorded the killing of African-American George Floyd. The video recorded by her was viral on the internet and set off prolonged nationwide protest under the banner of ‘Black Lives Matter’.
The Pulitzer Board said, “Her video spurred protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice.”
Pulitzer Prizes are awarded in 21 categories, every awardee is given a USD 15,000 cash award. The winner in the public service category is awarded a gold medal.