International Women's Media Foundation

We’re incredibly proud to announce the winners of our 2026 Courage in Journalism Awards: Elaheh and Elnaz Mohammadi of Iran, @ByGeorgiaFort of the United States, and Nay Min Ni of Myanmar.

Prior to her detention, Frenchie was known for her reporting on social inequality in the Eastern Visayas region. The Justice for Women Journalists Award honors journalists detained, arrested, or imprisoned because of their work. Learn more here: iwmf.org/courage/

Our final Courage spotlight is 2026 Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Awardee Frenchie Mae Cumpio of the Philippines. Since 2020, Frenchie has been imprisoned on widely disputed charges under policies used to silence independent journalists and activists.

We’re proud to be one of the only organizations currently offering journalist safety training in Spanish in the US, including preventive protocols, digital security strategies, and equipment recommendations. Register here: tr.ee/cD46DHL7K9

We’re excited to announce two new NSAA trainings in Philadelphia and Charlotte next month, both of which will include Spanish-language instruction.

This is a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the work of a woman using her platform to expand media narratives and uplift others in the industry. Be sure to submit a nomination by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. Eastern here: iwmf.submittable.com/submit/340817/…

Our nominations for the 2026 Gwen Ifill Award close this weekend, on Sunday, May 31! This award is open to women and nonbinary journalists across the US who exemplify Gwen's legacy of mentorship, leadership, and commitment to a diversity of perspectives in journalism.

Learn more about her decades of contributions to the media industry here: youtube.com/live/SZNqdFi7J…

We're thrilled to congratulate IWMF Board Member Kerry Smith on being inducted into the Emmys' Gold Circle Honor Society today. As senior vice president of editorial quality for ABC News, Kerry has spent her career producing high-quality, impactful reporting.

Reporting for the outlawed independent news outlet Myanmar Now, Nay is committed to sharing the human stories of people impacted by the government's violence.  Learn more about her here: iwmf.org/community/nay-…

From Myanmar, our 2026 Courage in Journalism Awardee Nay Min Ni works under a pseudonym to continue reporting on the activities of the country's military dictatorship. Risking her safety and her freedom, Nay moves between safe houses to continue her work.

You can also join us in Portland this July for a freelancer meetup at #IMC26!

Join us in New Orleans for a freelancer meetup at #NAHJ26 this July!

"The president is undermining the foundations of the rule of law by also using sexism and misogyny" to silence women journalists. Our President, Elisa Lees Muñoz, speaks with @3CatInfo about the dangers of reporting in Donald Trump's America: 3cat.cat/3catinfo/el-pe…

Amid the Iranian government's subsequent crackdown on dissidents and journalists, the Mohammadi sisters have continued to fearlessly cover police brutality, corruption, and social justice in Iran. Learn more about them here: iwmf.org/courage/

Meet Elaheh and Elnaz Mohammadi of Iran, the first sisters in the IWMF's history to receive the Courage in Journalism Award in the same year. The sisters first made headlines in 2022 for their coverage of Iran's “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.

@pressfreedom Together with our partners in the Journalist Assistance Network, we urge Russia to reverse this designation and cease attacks on press freedom. Read our full statement here: iwmf.org/2026/05/iwmf-a…

@pressfreedom was recently designated an "undesirable" organization by the Russian government – a label also given to the IWMF earlier this year. This cascading effect sends a chilling message that the Kremlin is mounting its efforts to suppress free speech and silence dissent.

@ByGeorgiaFort She is a Midwest Emmy Award winner, media entrepreneur, and founder of BLCK Press and the Center for Broadcast Journalism. Her work focuses on policing, social justice, and community impact in Minnesota. Learn more about Georgia's remarkable courage here: iwmf.org/community/geor…

Meet 2026 Courage in Journalism Awardee @ByGeorgiaFort, an independent journalist from the U.S. who made headlines earlier this year when she was arrested by federal law enforcement after reporting on an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota.

Newsroom Safety Across America is headed to Texas next month! We'll be in Austin on June 3 and El Paso on June 4, offering free safety training to all freelance and staff journalists in the area. Register here: tr.ee/cD46DHL7K9