Recognition

Our awards programs recognize journalists blazing new trails to uphold democratic values and bolster press freedom.

Women and nonbinary journalists overcome incredible risks to bring us the truth, showing uncommon bravery to tell the story. Our awards honor journalists who expand our view of the world despite duress. This could include facing immense risks to report, enduring repression and censorship, paving the way for new generations, or opening our eyes to underreported realities.

Our longest-running awards are the Courage in Journalism Awards, which launched in 1989. Since then, the Courage Awards have recognized more than 110 journalists from 60 countries. One Courage Award, the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, is reserved to recognize a woman journalist who has been detained or imprisoned in relation to her work.

The Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Awards began in 2015 following the death of the revered AP reporter – and Courage in Journalism Award winner – in Afghanistan. Given to one journalist annually, the award recognizes the importance of photojournalism that inspires us to take action and compels us to better understand the world.

Our Gwen Ifill Award, launched in 2017, honors the late PBS reporter’s dedication to mentorship and uplifting women of color in the newsroom. The award is given annually to a trailblazing woman or nonbinary journalist of color who carries on Gwen’s legacy.

Supporting Award-Winning Reporting

Our fellows and grantees are receiving recognition for their IWMF-supported work at national and global levels. In 2021, the following IWMF-funded stories received awards:

Potato Slaves by Patricia Clarembaux and Almudena Toral for Univision
Disappearing Daughters by Corinne Chin and Erika Schultz for The Seattle Times
The Domestic Workers Fleeing Modern Slavery in the UK by Ylenia Gostoli for Al Jazeera
  • Anti-Slavery Day Awards, Winner, Best investigative news article dealing with Modern Slavery or Human Trafficking
Dark Corners of the Web: How foreign pedophiles are preying on Filipino children by Rachel Malaguit for Coconuts Media
Violentadas en cuarentena by Ketzalli Rosas Cervantes for Factual
Trapped in Mexico by Almudena Toral and Patricia Clarembaux for Univision