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AWARDS

Our reporter Caroline Hayek, winner of the Albert Londres Prize: This prize is for the Lebanese, the Syrians and L'Orient-Le Jour.

"This prize is awarded to you for a remarkable series of reports on Beirut after the explosion of August 4, which speaks of a violence that is not that of war, but a more insidious violence, that of corruption, of the negligence of certain public authorities," said Allan Kaval to our colleague.

Our reporter Caroline Hayek, winner of the Albert Londres Prize: This prize is for the Lebanese, the Syrians and L'Orient-Le Jour.

Caroline Hayek, reporter with L'Orient-Le Jour and winner of the Albert Londres Prize. (Credit: Ameer al-Halbi)

"This Albert Londres Prize is the result of the meeting between a tragic and singular event, the explosion of the port of Beirut, and a great talent, that of Caroline Hayek."

These words spoken by Elie Fayad, editor-in-chief of L'Orient-Le Jour, summarize what the Albert Londres Prize represents. The prize, the highest to be given in French-language journalism, was awarded Monday evening in Paris, in the presence of French Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin to L'Orient-Le Jour journalist Caroline Hayek, for her reports written after the tragic double explosion in the port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020.

Created in 1932, in homage to the French journalist Albert Londres, father of modern reportage, and awarded for the first time in 1933, this prize is the most prestigious in France, dedicated to the greatest in French-language reportage. It is divided into three categories: Written Press Award, Audiovisual Award and Book Award.

For this 2021 edition, 90 entries were submitted in the print media category, a record number. Among the nine selected were journalists from Le Figaro, Le Monde and Libération, including Wilson Fache, whose reports have also been regularly published in our columns for years. Last year, Marwan Chahine was nominated for his reports in L'Orient-Le Jour.

"Bravo L'Orient-Le Jour and congratulations, Caroline. This award is given to you for a remarkable series of reports on Beirut after the explosion of August 4, which speaks of a violence that is not that of war, but of a more insidious violence, that of corruption, the negligence of certain public authorities and its consequences for the weakest, for the most vulnerable, for the invisible people who you went to see, among whom are the Syrian refugees, "said Allan Kaval, a reporter with the daily newspaper Le Monde and recipient of the award last year, in handing over the award to our colleague.

"It is also the story of the disappointed hopes of the revolution that you tell. It is a dark picture in which there is really a glimmer of light, the journalism you do at L'Orient-Le Jour, a newspaper that has worked hard and evolved. It is also the story of the disappointed hopes of the revolution that you tell. A dark picture in which there is really a glimmer of light, the journalism you do at L'Orient-Le Jour, a newspaper that has worked hard and evolved.A glow that is also your writing, which transforms injustice into anger; and this anger, in politics, is sometimes the beginning of hope," he added.

Our journalist Caroline Hayek giving a speech during the presentation of the 83rd Albert Londres Prize which was awarded to her, on Nov. 15, 2021. (Credit: DR)

"I am very, very moved to be here tonight," Caroline Hayek said in reaction. "When the port of Beirut exploded on August 4, 2020, I was in France. I returned to Lebanon as quickly as possible. It was a shock to see Beirut, the city I grew up in, completely disfigured," she continued, overcome with emotion.

At the time, Caroline was working in the international department, but the entire editorial staff was mobilized, given the magnitude of the tragedy.

"What was most logical for me was to tell the story of the explosion through the Syrian refugees who were also affected. These are people who fled the war, fled the horror, who live in slums, who are considered second-class citizens in Lebanon and who have lost a wife, a brother, or find themselves injured" by the explosion , she explained.

"I received this award for articles on Lebanon, but I think a lot about the Syrians tonight. I covered the Syrian conflict from Beirut for six years, essentially giving a voice to all those whose voices were not heard enough. Telling their lives, their survival, but also their little daily anecdotes was my biggest school, I fell into journalism by chance. It was seven years ago that I decided to change my life and take my first steps at L'Orient-Le Jour," she continues, before adding, "This award is for the Lebanese, for the Syrians, for L'Orient-Le Jour. "

"This Albert Londres Prize is the result of the meeting between a tragic and singular event, the explosion of the port of Beirut, and a great talent, that of Caroline Hayek."These words spoken by Elie Fayad, editor-in-chief of L'Orient-Le Jour, summarize what the Albert Londres Prize represents. The prize, the highest to be given in French-language journalism, was awarded Monday evening in Paris,...