IWMF

06/02/2026

Have you faced digital or physical threats because of your work as a freelance journalist?

The IWMF and want to hear from you.
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[Spanish below]
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We're convening freelance and exiled freelance journalists from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific for a series of virtual focus groups on journalist safety and support.

These one-hour Zoom sessions, offered in English or Spanish will explore what outlets are doing well to support freelancers and where more work is needed.

Participants will also receive access to digital and physical security resources and support.

Interested in joining? Apply by June 11, 2026.
🔗 bit.ly/Freelance-Focus-Groups

Questions? Contact [email protected].
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¿Has enfrentado amenazas digitales o físicas debido a tu trabajo como periodista freelance?

La IWMF y quieren escuchar tu experiencia.

Estamos reuniendo a periodistas freelance y periodistas freelance en el exilio de África, América Latina y el Caribe, y Asia-Pacífico para participar en una serie de grupos focales virtuales sobre seguridad y apoyo para periodistas.

Estas sesiones de una hora vía Zoom, disponibles en inglés o español, explorarán qué están haciendo bien los medios de comunicación para apoyar a las y los freelancers y qué aspectos aún necesitan fortalecerse.

Las personas participantes también tendrán acceso a recursos y apoyo en seguridad digital y física.

¿Te interesa participar? Postúlate antes del 11 de junio de 2026.

🔗 bit.ly/Freelance-Focus-Groups

¿Tienes preguntas? Escríbenos a [email protected].

06/02/2026

Journalists in 2026 face rapidly escalating legal threats to their First Amendment rights.

In its report, spoke with about the rising use of law-enforcement powers against journalists — from equipment seizures and surveillance to pressure targeting confidential sources.

When journalists are unable to protect their sources or work product, important stories go unreported, and the public is cut off from the information it needs to hold powerful institutions accountable. As threats to press freedom grow, legal preparedness is becoming an essential part of newsroom infrastructure.

Swipe through for key insights from RCFP →

Read the full report: bit.ly/IWMF_SafeTogether

05/30/2026

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 anti-terror and “red-tagging” policies that are often used to silence independent journalists and activists in the Philippines.

Prior to her detention, Frenchie was the executive director of the independent news outlet Eastern Vista, known for her reporting on social inequality in the Eastern Visayas region, including the killings of farmers and the impacts of militarized conflict under government policies.

The annual Justice for Women Journalists Award honors journalists who have been detained, arrested, or imprisoned because of their work.

Learn more about Frenchie and this year’s Courage winners here: https://www.iwmf.org/courage/

05/29/2026

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

We’re proud to be one of the only organizations currently offering journalist safety training in Spanish in the United States, including guidance on staying safe in the field and online through preventive protocols, digital security strategies, and equipment recommendations. These trainings may be especially valuable for journalists covering immigration, ICE activity, and Latinx communities.

Register here: https://tr.ee/cD46DHL7K9

05/29/2026

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. 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: https://iwmf.submittable.com/submit/340817/2026-gwen-ifill-award-nomination-form

05/28/2026

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 that has shaped national and global conversations around the most important issues of our time. Learn more about her decades of contributions to the media industry here:

The 47th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards will stream live on...

05/28/2026

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 as the government cracks down on press coverage of the country's ongoing civil conflict. 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: https://www.iwmf.org/community/nay-min-ni/

05/27/2026

"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 3Cat about the dangers of reporting in Donald Trump's America:

La cancel·lació del xou de Stephen Colbert culmina el somni humit d'un president convençut que la premsa és l'enemiga del poble i que cal atemorir-la amb atacs grollers, sobretot contra les dones

05/27/2026

IWMF Board Member Tara Kangarlou reflects on 2026 Courage Award winners Elaheh and Elnaz Mohammadi for the BBC. The sisters were persecuted by the Iranian government following their coverage of the killing of Mahsa Amini and the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests. Elaheh was jailed for 18 months for her work, and Elnaz bravely supported her sister and continued reporting on the movement as Iran's media crackdown intensified.

05/26/2026

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 the death of Mahsa Amini, an event that catalyzed Iran's “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. Elaheh was jailed for 18 months for her coverage of the movement, and Elnaz bravely continued reporting on the movement under intense surveillance. 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: https://www.iwmf.org/courage/