News

2026 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom acceptance speech

“When journalists are killed, when they are labelled enemies, when they are shut out — it is not just the journalists who suffer. It is everyone who depends on the truth.”

2026 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom award speech

“We award the Golden Pen of Freedom to an amalgam of journalists who against all the odds, including the killing of colleagues and family members, have persevered in the most grotesque circumstances – to honour the memories of those killed and to ensure the world can never say – we didn’t know.”

2026 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom to be awarded to the professional photo and video journalists of Gaza

The award, due to be made on 1st June during the opening day of the 2026 World News Media Congress taking place in Marseille, France acknowledges the sacrifice and endurance of local Palestinian media professionals living and working in a war zone. It also recognises colleagues injured and killed in the course of doing their job. 

Stig Ørskov to EU Speakers of Parliaments: Let’s live up to our shared responsibility

“Citizens must feel confident that the press is holding you and your colleagues in the European parliaments accountable – on their behalf. And they will only feel that confidence if the press is truly free from influence from the politicians it must scrutinise.”

World’s press condemns killing of Amal Khalil, demands justice

World Editors Forum President, David Walmsley, has written to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to demand an inquiry into the death of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. Read his full letter here.

Changing the narrative for 3 May, World Press Freedom Day 

3 May, World Press Freedom Day, is often used to underline just how bad things have become for journalists and independent media worldwide. A cynic could simply change the date and publish the same story each year: the situation has not improved, the usual suspects are running roughshod over press freedom, threats and challenges are worsening. 2026 is no exception. 

Journalism has a modesty problem – and its killing the profession

This Sunday, as the world celebrates – or calls for – Press Freedom, grassroots activist Mirko Petricevic reckons it’s time we rally the troops, and fly journalism’s flag with collective resolve.

Don’t look away: DIE ZEIT’s Wolfgang Bauer on Sudan’s forgotten war

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, DIE ZEIT’s Wolfgang Bauer issues a stark warning to the news industry, with an urgent call for a journalism willing to bear witness – however painful.

Four years on: Supporting independent media in Ukraine

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, Ukrainian journalists and media organisations have been holding the line by producing critical independent journalism – under the worst of conditions. During that time, WAN-IFRA has stood alongside Ukrainian independent media through structured support, long-term partnerships, and targeted capacity-building initiatives – and we are committed to continuing that support.

WAN-IFRA denounces sentences for Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily executives in Hong Kong

Described as “cruel and profoundly unjust”, the sentences imposed on Jimmy Lai and his Apple Daily colleagues this week send a chilling message to journalists and independent media, and risk marking the end of freedom of expression in Hong Kong.