“In a world of shrinking civic space and polarized narratives, our work has never felt more urgent - or more vulnerable. This report shows how our past impact informs a clearer, more determined path ahead. As we continue to defend press freedom through independent photojournalism and documentary photography, we face rising pressures that demand even stronger support and conviction - to resist being drowned out by politics and inequality, and to keep truth in focus.” - Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director, World Press Photo
In 2024, World Press Photo took bold steps to evaluate our impact and future direction. This included a midterm review of our five-year strategy and a thoughtful restructuring of our organization to better support photographers, reach wider audiences, and create space for deeper strategic thinking.
During the year, we operated in a challenging environment shaped by global conflict and censorship, but also internal capacity constraints. Yet, we achieved milestones that reflect our resilience. We launched new rural exhibitions, expanded safety training for photojournalists, and revived the Joop Swart Masterclass after a three-year hiatus. We also laid the groundwork for our 70th anniversary, including the digitization of our archive and a powerful exhibition focused on sustainability and climate.
The Impact Report 2024 documents all of this as we prepare for the future, one shaped by trust, impact, and the power of visual storytelling.
Image credits (top to bottom, left to right): Frank van Beek; NL CG Shanghai; Olivier Khouadiani; Laura van Erp.
