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Kathy Gannon

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Kathy Gannon
Born1954 (age 70–71)
Timmins, Ontario
NationalityCanadian
OccupationJournalist
Websitekathy-gannon.com

Kathy M. Gannon (born 1954) is a Canadian journalist and news director of the Associated Press for Afghanistan and Pakistan.[1] In 2014, Gannon was attacked and wounded while reporting from Afghanistan.[2][3][4] Her German colleague, Anja Niedringhaus, was mortally wounded. Gannon received extensive coverage as she struggled to recover from her wounds and return to war reporting.

Biography

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Gannon was born in Timmins, Ontario,[2] the youngest of six children.[5]

Gannon was a freelance journalist in Israel before 1988,[6] when she began reporting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.[1] Her early reporting focused on the mujahedeen during the Soviet-Afghan war.[7] She remained in the country until September 2001, when, following the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban forced all foreigners to leave the country. She returned by October 23, 2001, where she was "the only Western journalist to see the last weeks of Taliban rule".[7] By 2014, Gannon had spent 18 years reporting from Afghanistan and was the Associated Press's regional chief.[2]

In 2005, she published the non-fiction book I is for Infidel: From Holy War to Holy Terror in Afghanistan.[2]

2014 attack

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On 14 April 2014, Gannon and AP photographer Anja Niedringhaus were in a convoy of journalists near Khost,[6] reporting on the national elections, protected by elements of the Afghan National Army and Police.[2] When the vehicles were stopped, one of the commanders, named Naqibullah, of the police contingent took his rifle, yelled "Allahu Akbar!", and fired into their vehicle at close range.[8] He then sat down and surrendered to his colleagues.[citation needed] Gannon was rushed to a hospital in Khost, where she underwent an emergency operation which saved her life.[6][7] The attacker offered mixed explanations for his motive. He was found guilty by a court in July 2014 and set to be executed.[9]

Following the attack, Gannon underwent 18 surgeries (14 in 2014 alone) to repair the damage caused by the seven bullets which hit her, which especially damaged her left arm and hand.[6][9]

Later career

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Gannon returned to journalism two years after the attack,[7] working for eight more years before retiring in 2022.[6] In 2020, she was named news director for Afghanistan and Pakistan.[1] In 2023 the 'CFWIJ Kathy Gannon Legacy Award' was established by the Coalition For Women in Journalism.[10]

Personal life

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Gannon is married to Pakistani architect Naeem Pasha.[5]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Maks, Patrick (December 22, 2020). "Kathy Gannon named news director for Afghanistan and Pakistan". AP Definitive Source. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Kathy Gannon, Canadian-born journalist, wounded in Afghanistan, colleague, photographer Anja Niedringhaus, killed". National Post. The Canadian Press. April 4, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2021. Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed his deep sadness over Niedringhaus' death and the wounding of Gannon. "These two AP journalists had gone to Khost province to prepare reports about the presidential and provincial council elections," a statement from Karzai's office quoted him as saying. It added that Karzai instructed the interior minister and the Khost governor to assist the AP in every way possible.
  3. ^ Gaeml, Kim (April 4, 2014). "AP Photographer Anja Niedringhaus Killed, Reporter Kathy Gannon Shot In Afghanistan". The Huffington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014. Gannon, 60, who for many years was the news organization's Afghanistan bureau chief and currently is a special correspondent for the region, was shot three times in the wrists and shoulder. After surgery, she was in stable condition and spoke to medical personnel before being flown to Kabul.
  4. ^ Edwards, Michael (April 4, 2014). "Two female foreign journalists shot in Afghanistan, one dead". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014. "Anja Niedringhaus and Cathy Gannon were the two journalists in the world who spent more time than any others covering Afghanistan," Associated Press executive director Kathleen Carroll said.
  5. ^ a b c "Kathy Gannon". American Academy of Diplomacy. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e Chang, Ailsa; Macias, Miguel; Fox, Kathryn (May 12, 2022). "Journalist Kathy Gannon retires after 35 years covering Afghanistan". NPR.
  7. ^ a b c d Gannon, Kathy (July 4, 2022). "Hope and despair: Kathy Gannon on 35 years in Afghanistan". AP News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Cade, DL (April 4, 2014). "Veteran AP Photographer Killed by Afghan Policeman Who Opened Fire on Her Vehicle". PetaPixel. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014. According to the AP report, Niedringhaus, 48, was in a car with AP reporter Kathy Gannon, an AP Television News freelancer and a driver. They had just arrived at a heavily guarded district compound and were waiting for the convoy to move forward when a unit commander by the name of Naqibullah "walked up to the car, yelled 'Allahu Akbar' — God is Great — and opened fire on them in the back seat with his AK-47."
  9. ^ a b c Ormiston, Susan (December 3, 2014). "Reporter Kathy Gannon won't be 'held hostage' by brutal shooting in Afghanistan". CBC.
  10. ^ "Kathy Gannon Legacy Award". Coalition For Women in Journalism. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Kathy Gannon | 2002 Courage in Journalism Award". International Women's Media Foundation. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  12. ^ Annual Report, July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003 (PDF) (Report). Council on Foreign Relations. 2003. p. 110. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Greenman, John (February 20, 2015). "Associated Press correspondent named winner of McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage". Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. University of Georgia. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  14. ^ Loughlin, Wendy S. (February 23, 2016). "AP Correspondent Kathy Gannon to Be Honored with Tully Free Speech Award March 7". SU News. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Veteran Correspondent and AP News Director Kathy Gannon to receive Columbia Journalism Award". Columbia Journalism School. April 27, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  16. ^ "Independent Media: Fact or Fiction". www.fims.uwo.ca. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
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