In a world where press freedom was already under significant pressure, yet another war only ratchets up the threats. It becomes instantly more difficult and more dangerous to witness what’s happening, to untangle the truth, and to present it in a way that’s understood as fair. It’s true for all forms of media, whether it is a struggling local newspaper or a groundbreaking blog. War becomes an excuse for restrictive legislation, censorship, funding cuts, intimidation, even violence against the press and a flooding of public spaces with misinformation. At no time is the need for accurate information more essential, while at the same time, more difficult to produce. It’s why we all need to support a free press.

As an organization, we proudly carry the word ‘Press’ in our name, but it raises many fundamental questions: just what IS the press today? What role does it play in different parts of the world? How is it challenged and how can it be protected? These are ongoing questions in an evolving environment.

For an organization whose core is responsible photojournalism, the burning question is: Is it still relevant? Can it survive the onslaught of manipulated images? And as World Press Photo, what is our role?

We stand by our ethical values of accuracy, integrity, and transparency. We believe that our commitment to those values will sustain trust in what we do and reinforce a free press. Other media platforms can rely on our judgements and together we help news delivery stay strong. We have a stake in helping the field of photojournalism find its rightful place in the current turmoil and we do it in various ways. We do it through thorough vetting of the entrants to our contest, requiring them to submit proof that they are working as professional photographers. We do it through researching each photo awarded in the contest and educating photographers, through our Joop Swart Masterclass. We also educate the viewing public with our videos of jury members who explain what they value in the awarded photos. And importantly, we endeavor to set standards, and to make those standards clear to everyone.

As executive director, I have regular conversations with photo editors from news organizations across continents. At one point this past year, I asked them: in a world as polarized and complicated as ours, how do you balance stories and narratives? How do you continue to show that you are not there to take sides, but to tell stories as they are? How do you navigate the daily turbulence that comes with being a vehicle for storytelling?

Their answer was both simple and profound: we do the best we can. We stand by our ethics, our commitment to truth-telling, and our values. And if we get something wrong one day, we correct it the next.

As World Press Photo, we only get to do it once. A newspaper publishes daily and news websites can update even more frequently. We award stories annually. Our selection becomes a record of the year, a reference point. There is no “breaking news update” or “tomorrow’s edition” to rebalance or reframe. That puts enormous pressure on our selection process to take care at every stage that the stories meet our standards of accuracy and truth.

The selection is made by an independent jury through a process of rigorous and conscientious review. Their debates are thoughtful, nuanced, and at times difficult. Reasonable people can disagree. And yet, what stands out most is the level of intent behind each decision. Jury members are determined to uphold technical excellence without compromise. They are committed to representing people and communities with dignity and humanity, and to intentionally embracing a diversity of visual styles and voices across regions. They also work at balancing heavy stories with hopeful and resilient ones. And above all, they strive to recognize the local, regional, and international importance of each story.

I have deep respect for the thoughtful process behind every story we award. I believe that the jury’s intentionality is - and will continue to be - the source of the public’s trust in World Press Photo. As I write this, the winners of the 2026 World Press Photo Contest will be revealed very soon, on 9 April, and I can say with confidence, this year’s awarded stories will be no exception. There are predictable stories told in extraordinary ways, as well as images of situations you’ve never thought of that get you thinking and talking to people, perhaps continents away. That’s our goal.

Now the world is entangled in several wars at once. In the West, billionaires with vested interests are buying up media houses, putting free speech under even greater attack. Propaganda is thriving while impartial news outlets, both large and small, are struggling to survive. Now, more than ever, brave and creative journalists who contribute visuals to trustworthy news sources need your support. All over the world, a free press needs your support! So start your contribution today by supporting your local outlet or donating to World Press Photo, keeping photojournalism a vital force for truth, connection, and change.