Her Legacy
An award that carries her name
In 2019, five years after her death, the Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism was established in her honor — recognizing journalists and writers who keep telling difficult truths in difficult times, as she did.
The award was established in 2019 by the Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees, a US nonprofit. It recognizes independent journalists and writers “who continue to tell challenging truths in difficult times,” and carries a cash prize. More than seventy laureates have received it, among them Julian Assange and John Pilger.
PLACEHOLDER — The founding story as the family tells it: why the words “uncompromised integrity” were chosen, and what the award means to those who keep it. To be provided by Judith Poe from the award records.
Visit the award's official siteA note on the years: the award's official site lists its laureates without dates, so the years shown here are drawn from the public record — recipients' own dated announcements and archived versions of the official list — and mark the year a name first appeared. Where the record allows a range, the range is shown. The family's own records take precedence, and corrections are welcome.
2019
- Eva BartlettCanadian activist-journalist covering Syria and Gaza; RT contributor; described by Bellingcat as the award's first winner
- Vanessa BeeleyBritish blogger covering Syria, prominent critic of the White Helmets
- Rania KhalekLebanese-American journalist, host at BreakThrough News
- The Jimmy Dore ShowPolitical comedy/commentary YouTube show hosted by comedian Jimmy Dore
- Max BlumenthalAuthor, founder and editor of The Grayzone
- MintPress NewsMinneapolis-based online news outlet founded by Mnar Adley
- Whitney WebbInvestigative journalist, founder of Unlimited Hangout, formerly MintPress News
- Moon of AlabamaPseudonymous geopolitics blog
- Kevork Almassian (Syriana Analysis)Syrian-born political commentator based in Germany, founder of Syriana Analysis
- Gareth PorterUS investigative journalist and historian on national security
- Finian CunninghamIrish columnist (Strategic Culture Foundation, Sputnik)
- Dilyana GaytandzhievaBulgarian investigative journalist (Arms Watch)
- Resumen LatinoamericanoLatin American left-wing news outlet (English edition); announced its award April 2019
- Venezuela Analysis (Venezuelanalysis)English-language news site covering Venezuela
- Information Clearing HouseIndependent news-aggregation website
- Sharmine NarwaniBeirut-based analyst and commentator on West Asia geopolitics
- Black Agenda ReportUS Black-left news and commentary site founded 2006
- Julian AssangeWikiLeaks founder and publisher
- Ajamu BarakaUS human-rights activist, 2016 Green Party vice-presidential nominee
- Caitlin JohnstoneAustralian reader-funded political writer and blogger
- Kim IversenIndependent YouTube/podcast host, later co-host of The Hill's Rising; disclosed her $5,000 prize on Instagram Aug 2, 2019
- South FrontMilitary/geopolitical analysis website, later sanctioned by the US Treasury (2021)
- Dan CohenJournalist and filmmaker (Behind the Headlines)
- Rick SterlingBay Area writer-activist associated with the Syria Solidarity Movement
- Ben NortonJournalist, founder of Geopolitical Economy Report, former Grayzone assistant editor
- Anya ParampilThe Grayzone reporter and host
- Aaron MatéThe Grayzone journalist, host of Pushback
2019–2020
- Steven Sahiounie (Mideast Discourse)Latakia-based Syrian-American writer, Mideast Discourse
- The GrayzoneUS news website founded by Max Blumenthal
- Ryan Cristian (The Last American Vagabond)Founder and host of The Last American Vagabond
2020
- Richard MedhurstSyrian-born British independent journalist and YouTube commentator
- Danny HaiphongWriter and commentator, then Black Agenda Report contributing editor
- Margaret KimberleyBlack Agenda Report editor and 'Freedom Rider' columnist
- Glen FordBlack Agenda Report co-founder and executive editor (1949-2021)
2021
- Consortium NewsIndependent news site founded in 1995 by Robert Parry
- Alan MacLeodAcademic and senior staff writer at MintPress News
- Dan KovalikUS labor and human-rights lawyer and author
- Ajit SinghLawyer and writer covering China
- Peter FordFormer UK ambassador to Syria (2003-2006)
- Alastair CrookeFormer British diplomat and MI6 officer, founder of Conflicts Forum
- Kit KlarenbergInvestigative journalist, The Grayzone contributor
- Jackson HinkleUS political commentator and streamer (The Dive)
2022
- George EliasonUS-born journalist writing from the Donbas region
- Oscar LeonJournalist and video producer (The Real News Network)
- Alina LippGerman blogger covering the Donbas from pro-Russian perspective (Neues aus Russland)
- Kim IvesEditor of Haiti Liberte's English section
- Jeremy KuzmarovManaging editor of CovertAction Magazine
- Brian BerleticFormer US Marine, geopolitical commentator (The New Atlas)
2022–2023
- Scott RitterFormer UN weapons inspector turned political commentator; listing appeared between Dec 16, 2022 and Jan 15, 2023, noted publicly Jan 11, 2023
2023
- Antiwar.comLibertarian foreign-policy news site (Randolph Bourne Institute); announced its award June 26, 2023
- Garland NixonUS radio host and political analyst
- George GallowayBritish politician and broadcaster, Workers Party of Britain leader
- Camila EscalanteEditor of Kawsachun News, Telesur English presenter
- Christelle NéantFrench blogger based in Donbas, founder of Donbass Insider
- Ollie VargasJournalist covering Bolivia (Kawsachun News)
2023–2024
- John PilgerAustralian investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker (1939-2023); listing appeared between Nov 21, 2023 and Mar 28, 2024
2024
- Belén FernándezAuthor and contributing editor at Jacobin, Al Jazeera opinion writer
- Rachel BlevinsFormer RT America correspondent, independent host
- Ahmed KaballoFounder and CEO of African Stream
- Patrick HenningsenFounder of 21st Century Wire
- Dimitri LascarisCanadian lawyer, journalist and activist; announced his award on X on Dec 28, 2024
2025
- Jamarl ThomasUS political commentator, Fault Lines radio co-host (The Progressive Soapbox)
- Alon MizrahiIsraeli writer and commentator critical of Israeli policy
- KJ NohWriter, peace activist and commentator on Korea and China
- Ramzy BaroudPalestinian-American journalist, editor of The Palestine Chronicle
- Sabrina SalvatiUS progressive commentator, host of the Sabby Sabs podcast
- Zarefah BaroudWriter and doctoral researcher on Palestine
- Asa WinstanleyInvestigative journalist, associate editor at The Electronic Intifada
2026
- Fiorella IsabelJournalist and correspondent (The Convo Couch, RT)
- Myriam FrançoisBritish journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker
- Myriam CharabatyLebanon-based journalist and editor
- William Van WagenenWriter on Syria (The Cradle, Libertarian Institute)
- Patrick LawrenceFormer International Herald Tribune correspondent, Consortium News columnist
- Jacques BaudFormer Swiss army colonel and intelligence analyst, author on the Ukraine war
- David MillerFormer University of Bristol sociology professor, Press TV presenter; added to the laureates page between Aug 14 and Aug 27, 2026
- Mary KostakidisAustralian journalist, former SBS World News prime-time anchor; added to the laureates page between Aug 14 and Aug 27, 2026