The Associated Press delivered an extraordinary piece of journalism with its exclusive, on-camera interview with a long-underground Syrian whistleblower whose clandestine smuggling operation exposed atrocities committed by Bashar Assad’s regime. The whistleblower, Ussama Uthman, played a pivotal role in compiling what became known as the Caesar Files — thousands of photographs documenting the torture and killing of detainees inside Syrian government facilities. His work ultimately helped spur U.S. sanctions and launch multiple international war crimes investigations.
On a tip from news director Abby Sewell, correspondent Sam McNeil traveled to France in May to attend a meeting that included Uthman, who had long operated in secrecy. Over the months that followed, McNeil earned Uthman’s trust and persuaded him to grant AP an in-depth, first-time, on-camera interview recounting the perilous effort carried out by him, his wife and his brother-in-law to smuggle the evidence out of Syria.
Conducted in northern France with videojournalist Mark Carlson and photographer Jean-Francois Badias, the interview demanded extensive security precautions due to the ongoing risk of retribution Uthman faces. The resulting story illuminated — in vivid, painful detail — the systemic brutality of Assad’s security apparatus and the human cost captured in the images Uthman helped extract.
The work resonated powerfully and arrived at a critical geopolitical moment, as Syria’s new leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, visited Washington seeking removal of the very sanctions triggered by the Caesar Files.
Judges praised McNeil’s persistence, the courage of the reporting, and the profound public importance of bringing Uthman’s testimony into the light.
For dogged reporting, sensitive source management and high-impact international journalism, McNeil wins this week’s first Best of the Week.
Related articles
