Blog
On Being Canadian: From Timmins to Afghanistan, More than Not Being American
On the frontlines of conflict, where I have spent much of my career, regardless of the war I was covering or with which side I was speaking, being Canadian has been an advantage. Our nationality carries little baggage. Having never been a superpower, we’ve had less power to abuse. We’re generally seen by the belligerents who make war zones war zones as non-threatening.
I recall one meeting with Nasser al-Bahri, Osama Bin Laden’s bodyguard. I had tracked him down to learn more about bin Laden’s last and youngest wife, who was from Yemen.…READ MORE
Reporting from Pakistan: “Our job is not to cheerlead for the West, our job is to try to understand”
My guest today is Kathy Gannon, who reported for the Associated Press for 35 years, covering Afghanistan and Pakistan as chief correspondent and later news director. Gannon was the only Western journalist allowed in Kabul before the 2001 U.S.-British offensive. She also covered the Iraq War, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the Central Asian States.
In 2014, Gannon was critically injured while covering Afghan election preparations when an Afghan police officer opened fire on her car.…READ MORE
University of Western Ontario Asper Fellow 2025, Past Shorenstein Fellow, Harvard University
The Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) is pleased to announce that Kathy Gannon, award-winning Canadian journalist, author and former news director of the Associated Press for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been named the Winter 2025 FIMS Asper Fellow in Media.
Gannon will be teaching a graduate-level course during the Winter 2025 term titled “International News, Independent Media: Illusion or Reality?” The course will use international news, specifically coverage of conflicts like the ongoing Israel/Gaza war, to examine how deeply independent reporting has been compromised and what the ramifications might be.…READ MORE
Announcing the 2024 CFWIJ Kathy Gannon Legacy Awards
As Leila Molana Allen and Saima Mohsin receive the 2024 Kathy Gannon Legacy Awards in London, they remind us of women journalists worldwide who continue to pursue truth and often contribute more to journalism than the stories they tell.
CFWIJ is proud to support and honor both winners.
Through the awards, CFWIJ reaffirms its commitment to Kathy Gannon’s values, encouraging a new generation of journalists to carry her legacy forward. We look forward to celebrating these courageous women and the power of journalism at the Rory Peck Awards in London on November 28.…READ MORE
Announcement of Winner of Hinzpeter Awards 2024
It was an honor and a privilege to serve as chair of the Hinzpeter Video Journalism Awards for 2024. On behalf of the jury, the May 18 Foundation and the Korea Video Journalists Association I would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s competition. We had entries from across the globe and the quality was quite simply extraordinary. I would like to take a moment to recognize our Palestinian colleagues who have been our only eyes into the devastating war in Gaza. They have continued to report even as they have been targeted and their families killed by Israeli bombs.…WATCH THE VIDEO
Kathy Gannon on Free Speech Hub
A heartfelt thank you from Kathy Gannon for standing with Afghan media and journalists during these challenging times. Your support and solidarity bolster our commitment to defending freedom of the press and ensuring that the truth continues to be heard.