Wendell Steavenson

This year, Wendell Steavenson has told compelling human stories from conflict zones all across the world - from Ukraine and Gaza, where her original reporting sets her apart, to the South Caucasus, a profoundly under-reported yet globally significant region in this period of aggressive Russian expansion.

In “Nagorno-Karabakh, the republic that disappeared overnight,” Steavenson offers a deeply moving chronicle of the human toll of geopolitical conflict. As Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh in the wake of the Azerbaijani military's final assault, her reporting offered poignant details about the refugees, who were driven from homes almost overnight. Steavenson was one of few foreign reporters to catch the moment that this “frozen conflict” turned hot for the final time; and one of fewer still to do justice to the stories of the men, women, and children whose world was being upended.

The compassion and clarity that characterise Steavenson’s work are especially pronounced in “The biblical archaeologist finding the victims Hamas burned.” For this feature, she reported on the extraordinary efforts of biblical archeologists to recover and identify the remains of Hamas’s victims. By describing Moshe Ajami’s fight to restore the dignity of the dead, the piece grappled with the question of how the community (and the world) could ever come to terms with October 7th. This piece was lauded globally and, along with Steavenson’s other dispatches from Israel and Gaza, set the tone for 1843’s coverage of the conflict.

In May, as Russian troops were gaining ground in northeastern Ukraine, Steavenson arrived in Kharkiv. The strategically important city had been under bombardment for years, but many residents were afraid that worse would follow the Russian advance. For all her unflinching coverage of these grim realities, Steavenson is also accomplished at illuminating human resilience. “As the Russians advance towards Kharkiv, Ukrainians head to the dance floor” is her arresting snapshot of a city determined to hold on to its spark, no matter what’s happening on the front line. Although the piece does not shy away from the Ukrainians’ anguish and fatigue, it also reveals the hope that its people nurture for the future. (Steavenson shares the byline for this piece with Anastasiia Parafeniuk, a Ukrainian fixer, media producer and project manager who she has collaborated with repeatedly.)

Steavenson’s work embodies the ideals of journalism: rigorous investigation, empathetic storytelling, and an unwavering commitment to the truth. The sensitivity and empathy she conveys in these stories highlight her gift for capturing the emotions behind the headlines; her fearless reporting, often conducted amidst risky and unpredictable conditions, demonstrates her dedication to her work. She is an outstanding candidate for Foreign Reporter of the Year.