The GroundTruth Project’s founder and editor-in-chief, Charles Sennott, received the James W. Foley World Press Freedom Award during a fundraiser at the National Press Club that celebrated the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation’s 10th anniversary.

The Foley Foundation was founded following the death of journalist James “Jim” Foley who was captured and later killed by ISIS while reporting from Syria. The Foley Awards honor those who demonstrate moral courage and share the foundation’s commitment to freeing Americans held captive abroad and promoting journalist safety.

“I believe the challenge now for all of us who care about press freedom is not just to cover the story but to help build local news ecosystems in each of these places,” stated Sennott in his acceptance speech. “We have to support local reporters who serve their own local communities, in their own countries, if we are going to truly affect change.”

Sennott is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and editor with 40 years of experience in international, national, and local journalism. Beyond touching upon the work GroundTruth is now doing through its flagship programs, Report for America and Report for the World, Sennott devoted much of his remarks to Foley, who was a friend and colleague at GlobalPost.

Top photo by Rahim Jessani/GroundTruth