Three ARIJ investigations and two collaborative investigations by ARIJ and The Guardian have made it to the shortlist for the True Story Award 2025.
The three ARIJ investigations—“European Research Grants Support the War on Gaza” by journalist Ahmad Ashour with contribution from Abdullah Taha, “Israel Falsely Warned It Would Bomb a Media Office. The Actual Airstrike Killed Journalists on a Nearby Street” by journalists Hoda Osman, Farah Jallad and Firas Taweel, and “Hidden Wounds” by journalist Fatima Ramahi—are competing with six other Arab investigations for the True Story Global Award 2025 for the Best Investigative Report in Arabic. Meanwhile, the collaborative investigation by ARIJ and The Guardian, “An Incredible Loss for Palestine’: Israeli Offensive Takes Deadly Toll on Journalists” by journalists David Pegg, Hoda Osman, and Manisha Ganguly, is competing for the award for the Best Investigative Report in English. Additionally “Revealed: Amazon linked to trafficking of workers in Saudi Arabia” investigation which was a collaboration between ARIJ, The Guardian, ICIJ, and NBC News, is contending for World II Award.
The first investigation reveals that Israeli arms manufacturers, such as IAI and Xtend, received research funding from the European Union, which they used to develop assault drones. The second investigation documents the final hours of journalists Said Al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobh and Hisham Nwajha’s lives, detailing how incorrect information from the Israeli military led to their deaths. The third investigation documents, through testimony and statements by male and female journalists in Gaza, the severe mental impact that covering the war has, given the absence of the necessary psychological support that should be provided to them by media institutions.
The fourth investigation documents the events and dates surrounding the fate of the “Press House” in Gaza during forty days of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The investigation also chronicles the killing of its founder and members, as well as the destruction of its headquarters. Meanwhile, the fifth investigation reveals how current and former workers were misled and exploited by firms that supply labor to Amazon in Saudi Arabia and by their network of recruiting agencies in Nepal.
The True Story Award is a the first globally-oriented journalism prize aims to set an example to motivate journalists all over the world and to strengthen them in their work.