Daoud Kuttab

Daoud Kuttab
Born April 1, 1955
Bethlehem, Palestinian National Authority
Nationality American
Occupation journalist
Awards CPJ International Press Freedom Award (1996)
World Press Freedom Hero (2000)

Daoud Kuttab (born 1 April 1955, in Bethlehem[1]) is a Palestinian journalist with American citizenship.[2]

Journalism

In 1980, Kuttab began his career at Al-Fajr, an English-language weekly newspaper. Over the next seven years, he was promoted to features editor and then managing editor. In 1987, he left Al-Fajr for Al-Quds, an Arabic-language daily newspaper based in East Jerusalem.[1] He also contributed to the Jerusalem Post.[3] During this period, he became the first Palestinian to receive an exclusive interview with Yitzhak Rabin, as well as from Shimon Peres and several other Israeli leaders.[1]

Kuttab was critical of press censorship by both the Israel government and the Palestinian Authority. On several occasions, he participated in rallies against Israeli censorship, resulting in his being arrested and searched.[1][3] In 1994, Kuttab led journalists to rally in protest of the banning of the daily newspaper Al-Nahar by the Palestinian National Authority. Al-Quds subsequently fired Kuttab at the direct order of President Yasir Arafat.[1] Kuttab continued to work as a journalist, however, writing for papers including the Daily Telegraph, Daily Yomuri, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Washington Post. In April 1996, he also created the Arabic Media Internet Network, an online magazine for uncensored Palestinian journalism.[3]

In May 1997, Kuttab was detained without charge by Arafat's government, reportedly for producing live broadcasts of Palestinian Legislative Council meetings.[2] He was released one week later following local and international pressure.[1][4]

Awards

He has won several international awards, including a 1996 International Press Freedom Award of the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists.[3] The award was given on behalf of his struggles for press freedom in both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[2]

In 2000, the Austria-based International Press Institute named him one of its fifty World Press Freedom Heroes of the previous fifty years.[5]

Kuttab sits on the board of the International Press Institute, which lists him as the "Director General, Community Media Network" and "Founder, AmmanNet, Jordan." [6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Daoud Kuttab, Palestinian Territories". International Press Institute. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schmemann, Serge (22 May 1997). "Palestinians Detain Reporter Who Is Said to Have Irked Arafat". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "1996 Awards - Kuttab". Committee to Protect Journalists. 1996. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  4. "The Palestinian National Authority". Committee to Protect Journalists. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  5. "World Press Freedom Heroes: Symbols of courage in global journalism". International Press Institute. 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  6. http://www.freemedia.at/about-us/executive-board.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daoud Kuttab.