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Portrait of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin

Photo: John Gillespie · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin

Eminent Journalist, Voice for Justice

Born
16 September 1984
Born in
California, United States
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Why Ahmed is here

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is renowned for his influential work in journalism, particularly for his role in giving voice to underrepresented and marginalized communities. He is an Emmy-nominated journalist known for his innovative approach to storytelling and his commitment to social justice and human rights. His work spans several prominent media organizations, including Al Jazeera English, VICE on HBO, and AJ+.

Their story

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, born in 1984 in the United States, is a Kuwaiti journalist, actor and presenter of Palestinian descent, who has reported for outlets including AJ+, HuffPost Live and PBS.

He shared Amnesty International Australia's first Human Rights Defender Award in 2024 with Bisan Owda, Plestia Alaqad and Anas Al-Sharif for reporting on Gaza, and acted in Annemarie Jacir's Palestine 36. In March 2026 he was detained in Kuwait over his social media posts, prompting calls for his release from press-freedom groups and the UN's special rapporteur on Palestine; he was freed after 52 days.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Ahmed’s path.

  1. 2007

    Graduated with honors from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

  2. 2012

    Helped establish HuffPost Live, where he produced and hosted "World Brief.".

  3. 2015-2016

    Featured on the Arabian Business Power List "100 under 40: The world’s most influential young Arabs.".

  4. 2013

    Published his first book, "Demanding Dignity.".

  5. 2012

    Co-created and co-hosted Al Jazeera English's "The Stream," nominated for an Emmy Award for Most Innovative Program.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Innovative Journalism

    Created and hosted "The Stream," an interactive talk show that garnered Emmy nominations.

  2. Global Correspondence

    Worked as a correspondent on documentaries for VICE on HBO, focusing on social justice.

  3. Digital Media Expertise

    Contributed significantly to digital media at outlets like The New York Times and PBS.

  4. Advocacy for Marginalized Voices

    Used his platform to highlight stories of marginalized communities and advocate for human rights.

  5. Educational Contributions

    Taught digital media courses as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

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