Randa Habib
Randa Habib has spent a quarter-century covering war, politics and economic development in the Middle East. Currently AFP's bureau chief in Amman, Jordan, she has reported extensively in Iraq and other hotspots, and interviewed royalty and top leaders throughout the region. She was granted the first interview of King Abdullah II in March 1999, less than three weeks after he became king of Jordan.
She founded the first Foreign Press Club in Jordan in 1996 and is still heading it.
Ms Habib serves on the Board of Directors of the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), a non-profit organization aimed at improving standards of journalism in the Middle East.
In 2001 she was awarded by the French president the decoration of "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite".
In July 2008, Randa was awarded the highest decoration in France, the Legion of Honour.
She is the author of a book, "Hussein père et fils, Trente années qui ont changé le Moyen-Orient" published by "l'Archipel" in 2007. An Arabic version was published in 2008 and the English version will be published in London.
Randa Habib is a French citizen, native of Lebanon, who graduated in Administrative and Political studies.
in memoriam : Peter Mackler
J.S. Tissainayagam, a Sri Lankan reporter, is the first winner of the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism, which honours the memory of one of the original board members of the AFP Foundation.
On August 31, Mr Tissainayagam was jailed for 20 years on charges of supporting terrorism.
The award was made by the Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which issued a statement saying:
"This country (Sri Lanka) needs journalists who are determined and concerned with finding the truth. J.S. Tissainayagam is one of those and should never have been imprisoned. Sri Lankans have the right to be informed about what is happening on their island."
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