The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation announced on December 5 that GroundTruth’s Charles Sennott, who worked with Jim Foley as the Executive Editor and co-founder of GlobalPost, will be honored with its World Press Freedom Award on May 1 in Washington, D.C.
In a press release, Foley Foundation President and Founder Diane Foley said, next year “the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation will mark the 10th anniversary of Jim’s legacy work to free Americans held captive abroad and to promote journalist safety. Please save May 1, 2024, for this important celebration of freedom, compassion, and moral courage.”
The press release highlights the work of four honorees and states, “The awards honor those who demonstrate moral courage and who share the Foundation’s commitment to free Americans held unjustly captive abroad and to prevent future hostage-taking. Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour, will be the emcee.”
Sennott, who has remained close with the Foley family through the last ten years since Jim was killed, said, “This is a deep and humbling honor. Jim was an extraordinary journalist and an even better human being who was always focused on compassion for the people who were caught in the middle of the wars he covered in Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.”
Sharing that GroundTruth will also mark its 10-year anniversary in 2024 along with the Foley Foundation, Sennott added that the award is truly for all of the GroundTruth team, particularly those who knew Jim personally, and the work it does day in and day out in supporting journalists in the field in the US and around the world.
On the Jim Foley’s legacy, Sennott added, “Jim Foley’s dedication to service and to being there on the ground to cover some of the most difficult and dangerous stories in the world has always served as a true North for us at GroundTruth throughout our journey. I cannot think of a more personally meaningful recognition in journalism than to be part of Jim’s enduring legacy.”