The Golden Globe Foundation supports nonprofit and educational organizations that expand access, elevate creative and journalistic voices, and enhance the public’s understanding of arts and culture. This includes support for institutions that protect press freedom, strengthen safety practices for journalists, and amplify women and underrepresented storytellers. The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is one such organization in this ecosystem, advancing press freedom and leadership through reporting, training, emergency assistance, and recognition programs. The IWMF has now opened nominations for three major awards that honor women and nonbinary journalists around the world.
The IWMF’s awards highlight work happening across reporting, photojournalism, and newsroom leadership at a time when press freedom remains under threat. UNESCO reports that 73 percent of women journalists surveyed have experienced online violence as a result of their reporting. These pressures intersect with harassment, threats, government oppression, accusations of fake news, and a persistent mistrust of the media. The IWMF’s awards honor those who continue reporting in spite of these conditions and affirm that journalists cannot be silenced.
Courage in Journalism Awards
For more than 35 years, the Courage in Journalism Awards have recognized journalists who demonstrate bravery, persistence, and resilience in the face of adversity. Honorees are selected for their willingness to report on taboo topics, challenge power, and uncover difficult truths.
Nominations for the 2026 Courage in Journalism Awards are open until February 1, 2026. Self-nominations are not accepted. Submissions are made through Submittable.
The Courage in Journalism Awards initiative also includes the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, which highlights women journalists who are detained, jailed, or imprisoned. These cases often receive brief global attention at the time of arrest but fade from public awareness as new crises emerge. Sustained visibility is critical to ensuring safety and accountability.
To date, the Courage in Journalism Awards have honored more than one hundred journalists across fifty-six countries.
Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award
Applications for the 2026 Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award are open until March 31, 2026.
This award was created to honor Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Anja Niedringhaus (1965 to 2014), who was killed while reporting in Afghanistan. Established in 2014 with a one million dollar gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the award recognizes women and nonbinary photojournalists whose work illuminates the realities of war, genocide, and humanitarian crisis. The award acknowledges the importance of visual journalism that inspires action and deepens public understanding of global events.
The winner will be publicly honored, have work showcased, and receive a 20,000 USD cash prize. Self-nominations are accepted and full guidelines are available through Picter.
Gwen Ifill Award
Nominations for the 2026 Gwen Ifill Award are open until April 30, 2026.
The Gwen Ifill Award was established to honor the legendary PBS NewsHour anchor who passed away in 2016. Gwen Ifill was among the most respected journalists of her generation, and a trailblazer whose leadership, mentorship, and advocacy expanded space for diverse perspectives in American media.
The award is open to journalists working in the United States and recognizes a recipient whose work reflects Ifill’s professional legacy and lived experience. Criteria include outstanding achievement in journalism, a demonstrated commitment to mentorship and leadership, and a dedication to representation in the field. Beginning in 2024, each Gwen Ifill awardee receives a cash prize courtesy of The UTA Foundation.
The most recent recipient, Errin Haines, serves as co-founder and editor-at-large of The 19th, is a political contributor to MSNBC, and is vice president of print for the National Association of Black Journalists.
Gwen Ifill once described her purpose as a journalist in the following terms:
“I was drawn to journalism because of the need to be the necessary voice – not to force my opinions on others but to broaden the stage for the debate.”
How to Apply and Learn More
Submission platforms vary by award and include Submittable and Picter. Some opportunities allow self-nomination while others require nomination by an editor, mentor, or peer. Full guidelines, eligibility criteria, and nomination links are available on the IWMF website under Awards.
