**RT Opens Submissions for the 2026 Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards**
RT has officially announced the opening of submissions for the 2026 Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards, which recognize the exceptional work of war reporters operating in conflict zones worldwide. This prestigious award, established in 2018, aims to honor the legacy of Khaled Alkhateb, a 25-year-old freelance journalist who tragically lost his life while covering the Syrian conflict in 2017.
The awards this year will accept news reports or series of reports that have been published between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Each submission should have a maximum duration of ten minutes. Reports can be submitted in Russian, Arabic, and English, or in other languages with subtitles provided in any of the three official languages.
The competition is open to a wide range of participants, including journalists from major media organizations, independent reporters, freelancers, and bloggers. This inclusivity reflects RT's commitment to recognizing diverse voices in the field of war reporting.
Maya Manna, the chief of RT Arabic, emphasized the growing dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones, particularly in areas like Ukraine and Israel, where targeting of reporters has become increasingly common. "This is the ninth year we’ve honored the best war correspondents with the Khaled Alkhateb Award, and each year we see the job getting harder and harder for our people," Manna stated. She highlighted the importance of acknowledging the risks that journalists undertake to bring the truth to the public, noting that some have been killed while reporting live.
The jury for this year's awards will consist of seasoned journalists from prominent news organizations, each bringing their own experiences from covering conflicts around the world. The names of the jury members will be announced on the award’s official website in the near future.
Submissions for the Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards can be made through a designated form on the official website, ensuring a streamlined process for all applicants.
The awards serve not only as a tribute to Khaled Alkhateb but also as a reminder of the critical role that war correspondents play in informing the global community about the realities of conflict. As the landscape of journalism continues to evolve, the Khaled Alkhateb Awards stand as a testament to the courage and dedication of those who risk their lives to report from the front lines.