Fox News State Department Correspondent Benjamin Hall Speaks at 2022 Foreign Press Awards

Following AFPC-USA’s Executive Director Thanos Dimadis’ interview with Brad Smith, attention turned to the ceremony’s final keynote speaker, Benjamin Hall, who works as the State Department Correspondent for FOX News. AFPC-USA Vice President Susan Modaress Tehrani introduced a brief video montage about Hall’s work reporting from the frontlines of several armed conflicts and wars as well as his reportage from inside a Syrian prison holding foreign captives of the Islamic State. 

Benjamin Hall addressing the AFPC-USA Annual Foreign Press Awards Ceremony

The circumstances that led to Hall’s award exemplify the dangers that can sometimes befall journalists, particularly when attacks against press freedom have become more commonplace and authoritarian regimes are enjoying a resurgence around the globe. In March 2022, Hall was gravely injured in Kyiv while reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when the vehicle he was traveling in was attacked. Pierre Zakrzewski, a longtime Fox News photojournalist, and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova were killed in the attack. Hall later confirmed that he had lost half of one leg and his foot on the other leg, the loss of function in one eye, damage to his hearing and injuries to a hand.

Tehrani praised Hall’s work, noting that it has been defined by “a sense of empathy and optimism” that exposes both “the human toll of war and countless stories of individual heroism.” She added: ”His body of work represents the best of our profession – a high calling that shines a light on atrocity, speaks truth to power, and gives voice to those who would otherwise not be heard.”

Hall could not make it to the ceremony but, like Todd, expressed his thanks via a pre-recorded video message. And when speaking about the attack that was one of the earliest and among the most high-profile cases of violence against journalists during the Russian invasion, Hall was completely undeterred in his commitment to journalism as an “essential” tool in armed conflict and war zones.

"I do think that this is not just an award for myself. It is an award for Pierre and for Sasha, who both died during that attack, and also for every other war correspondent who has been injured or killed covering conflicts," Hall said. "And despite the attack, despite what happened to us, I think it is essential that people continue telling the news, telling the stories from war. I think that's the only way we truly get to understand the atrocities, the disasters and the horror that's happening out there."

Susan Modaress Tehrani and Jay Wallace

Hall also praised those who have helped him along his road to recovery.

"This is also about celebrating the people who came in to get me and to save me, the people who put me back together, who built me despite all my injuries. And when I look at all those people and what they did, I'm reminded of how much good there is in the world. There was evil there in Ukraine that hurt so many people," he said. "But there is good, and there is more good than there is evil. And we have to continue trying to fight to get that news out as well. People are knocked down. I myself was knocked down. But I know for certain now that you can pick yourself up again, and you can try even harder to do what is so important, to keep telling the truth, to keep telling the stories and encouraging everyone else to do the same."

FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace accepted the award on Hall’s behalf and expressed his gratitude for those who ensured Hall made it home safely while commemorating Zakrzewski and Kuvshinova.

"Ben, he makes it look so effortless. If you watch his reporting, and then you watched him right there, I mean, that's the magic of Ben….I spoke with him last night. Ben sends his best wishes, he hopes to be here next year," said Wallace as the awards ceremony came to an end. “His recovery is going amazingly well. But just a reminder to you young journalists, these are hard jobs. I hope you never have to receive a call like a couple of us received back in March.”