AP staff demonstrate resilience and perseverance in the face of immense challenges covering deadly protests in Iran

By Staff involved in Iran coverage

Led by Persian Gulf and Iran News Director Jon Gambrell, AP journalists across the Middle East delivered courageous and consistent reporting on the deadly protests in Iran — despite one of the most restrictive newsgathering environments in the world.

From the start of the unrest in late December, the team inside Tehran tracked the protests on the ground. But when authorities shut down internet access and other means of communication, coverage became exponentially more difficult. The team pivoted swiftly: verifying smuggled videos, interviewing survivors and family members, and working with sources to confirm what was happening on the streets in real time.

Gambrell led daily coverage efforts, coordinating with reporters inside and outside the country as the scale of violence became evident. Thousands were killed in the government’s crackdown — a toll that shocked even seasoned observers.

Supported by a network of AP journalists including Elena Becatoros, Sarah Eldeeb, Melanie Lidman, Farnoush Amiri, Kareem Chehayeb and others whose identities cannot be revealed for safety reasons, the team gathered firsthand testimonies and painted a fuller picture of the motivations, grief and resilience of those who protested.

Judges praised the team’s persistence, coordination and bravery in telling an important global story under immense pressure.