International Women's Media Foundation

Yesterday in DC, we honored 3 brave women with our 2025 Courage in Journalism Award: @juliana.dalpiva, @YousraElbagir, and @MaritzaLFelix. In conversation with @mitchellreports, they discussed the importance of journalism in times of crisis. Thanks to @KellyO for hosting!

Nearly 1 in 3 journalists in the U.S. face violence while working. This is the reality behind the headlines. @IWMF’s Safe Together report breaks down the physical, digital, and legal threats journalists face, and what can be done. Read more ↓ bit.ly/IWMF_SafeToget…

Press freedom begins locally. A free press isn’t just about global headlines: It’s about whether communities have journalists at all. As local newsrooms close, communities lose accountability and context. On #WorldPressFreedomDay, check the bylines behind the stories you read.

Calling all photojournalists and documentarians in the Bay Area! Join @catchlight_io on May 2 for their annual Visual Storytelling Summit, where IWMF Safety Ambassador Jenny Stratton will be co-facilitating a free safety workshop. Get your tickets here: catchlight.io/summit

@OneFreePress Like all the journalists on this list, these women have been censored, persecuted, and imprisoned for simply doing their jobs and holding power to account. We call for the immediate release and exoneration of all the journalists on this list: onefreepresscoalition.com/list

Today, @OneFreePress released its annual list of the 10 most urgent cases of wrongfully incarcerated journalists. Notably, 6 out of the 10 this year are women: Pham Doan Trang Zhang Zhan Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva Frenchie Mae Cumpio Sevinj Vagifgizi Genet Asmamaw

@RSF_en To understand the context of this ranking, explore the whole index here: rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-in…

For the first time in the RSF Press Freedom Index's history, the U.S. has plummeted to 64th place, its lowest ever ranking. @RSF_en notes that "US President Donald Trump has turned his repeated attacks on the press and journalists into a systematic policy."

Throughout the year, we organized free trainings in ICE hotspots to ensure local journalists had the knowledge and resources to navigate raids and protests safely. Learn more about our work from last year in the 2025 IWMF Impact Report: iwmf.org/2025-impact-re…

In 2025, sweeping protests erupted against ICE activity in major U.S. cities. Journalists and their communities showed up in record numbers to document ICE raids and retaliation against observers.

The IWMF condemns the killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed by Israeli airstrike on April 22. Our thoughts are with Khalil's loved ones and colleagues. iwmf.org/2026/04/the-iw…

In 2025, as wildfires devastated Los Angeles, the IWMF expanded its U.S. Emergency Fund to support journalists affected by natural disasters, contributing $25,000 to journalists in the LA area. Learn more about our impact in the 2025 IWMF Impact Report: iwmf.org/2025-impact-re…

We're heading to Pittsburgh for our Newsroom Safety Across America tour, offering free safety training to newsrooms and freelancers. We'll cover preventative measures to safeguard journalists' physical and mental well-being in the field. Register here: bit.ly/NSAA-Pittsburgh

Missed our panel at @journalismfest on misogynistic attacks against women journalists? Watch the full discussion with @schemaly, @karynmaughan, and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner @julianadalpiva, moderated by IWMF President Elisa Lees Muñoz: journalismfestival.com/programme/2026…

Learn more about Shin's story in our awardee tribute: youtu.be/qOKvTW49NEQ?si… .

Today, Shin Daewe – our 2024 Justice for Women Journalists Award winner – was released from prison. As we celebrate her freedom, we're reminded of the gross injustice of her imprisonment, as well as the 40 journalists still detained in Myanmar. bit.ly/IWMF-Daewe0426

@Shollytupe Applications close in just two days—April 19 at 9PM ET. Apply here: iwmf.submittable.com/submit/03761c0…

@Shollytupe Reflecting on her experience as a Neuffer fellow, Shola shared: “There’s a lot I could say about how the fellowship boosted my profile as a journalist, but what I’m most grateful for is that I’ve maintained many of those relationships six years later.”

The final reporter we’re spotlighting ahead of the 2027 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship deadline is 2019 fellow Shola Lawal (@Shollytupe). Originally from Nigeria, Shola has worked as a freelance West Africa correspondent and independent filmmaker.

With support from Press Forward and the Knight Foundation, this initiative will train 3,000 journalists across the U.S. 🔗 Explore their work and learn more at iwmf.org

They’re working to strengthen safety practices, expand access to training, and support journalists in their newsrooms and communities.

For journalists in the West, safety is shaped by lived experience—covering high-risk stories, facing online harassment, and navigating gaps in support. 🧵