Witnesses of War

The 2026 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom will be awarded to professional photo and video journalists working in Gaza, recognising their extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and commitment to reporting from a war zone.

The award will be presented on June 1 during the opening day of the World News Media Congress in Marseille, France. It honours local Palestinian media professionals who have continued to document the impact of the ongoing conflict despite extreme danger, as well as those who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.

According to the award citation, journalists in Gaza have spent more than two and a half years documenting “death, destruction, and human suffering in unparalleled terms,” often while facing the same risks as the civilians they report on.

The conflict, which began after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, has since resulted in the deaths of more than 260 journalists, most of them in Gaza. Reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists indicate that at least 64 were allegedly targeted by Israeli military forces, a claim that remains the subject of international concern and limited investigation.

With foreign media largely restricted from entering Gaza, reporting has depended heavily on local Palestinian journalists working under severe conditions, including power shortages, communication disruptions, and ongoing military operations.

David Walmsley, editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail and president of the World Editors Forum, said there is “no replacing brave, independent journalism,” adding that Gaza’s photo and video journalists have ensured the world could not ignore the realities of the war.

The award will be received on behalf of Gaza-based journalists by representatives of Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press, and Reuters, whose local contributors continue to deliver consistent coverage from the conflict zone.

WAN-IFRA said the recognition reflects the journalists’ sacrifice, professionalism, and vital role in shaping global understanding of the crisis, describing their work as a lasting visual record of the war and its human cost.