The Transatlantic Leadership Network (TLN) awarded journalist Negar Mojtahedi and Iran International TV the Freedom of the Media Award for Excellence in International Reporting at its 5th Annual Conference in Washington DC on Monday.
Mojtahedi, host of the weekly podcast ‘Eye for Iran’ for Iran International English and a frequent author of investigative reports and in-depth interviews, reflected on her Iranian roots and the plight of Iran's people in her acceptance speech.
“I’ve often asked myself one simple question: What is best for the people of Iran? Not for its rulers, but for the men, women, and children whose voices are too often ignored,” Mojtahedi added. “Because when politics and power fall away, they are what truly matter.”
“At its heart, journalism is about truth. It’s about shining a light where others want darkness. It’s about giving voice to those who are silenced and holding the powerful, whoever they may be, to account,” Mojtahedi said.
Democratic values
The Transatlantic Leadership Network also honored Iran International TV for excellence in international reporting.
Executive Editor Mehdi Parpanchi, accepting on behalf of the 24-hour Persian-language channel broadcasting from London and Washington, thanked TLN for strengthening international dialogue and democratic values.
“For us, this recognition is not only about the team that works tirelessly to make our work possible: the journalists, producers, editors, presenters, engineers, and technicians who deliver the truth,” Parpanchi said.
"Above all we dedicate this award to the viewers inside Iran who often take real risks just to access independent news, he added.
Parpanchi cited a recent independent survey on how Iranians accessed news during the 12-day war with Israel in June, saying the network surpassed competitors and even state-run television.
“The survey found that Iran International was cited by 43 percent of respondents as their main source of television news,” Parpanchi said. “The state broadcaster IRIB stood at about 27%, and BBC Persian under 9%.”
More than half of respondents said they relied primarily on social media for news during the war.
Transatlantic Leadership Network is a DC based nonprofit think tank. It builds nonpartisan networks of leaders to strengthen transatlantic ties on security, economy, climate, and media freedom amid global shifts.
The Freedom of the Media Award, launched in 2021, recognizes bold journalism exposing repression and corruption.
On 2024, it was rewarded to Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad, Hanna Liubkova for investigative work in Balarus and Yann Philippin for specializing in financial scandals, corruption, and tax fraud in France.
