2026 IWMF Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award

Anja Niedringhaus' approach to photojournalism was best said herself, “I do my job simply to report people’s courage with my camera and with my heart.”

The Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award was created to honor the life and work of Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner Anja Niedringhaus (1965-2014), with a generous $1 million gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. With this Award, the IWMF celebrates the courageous work of women photojournalists like Anja who inspire us to take action and better understand the world. This courageous work manifests in many different forms which may include but is not limited to conflict or frontline reporting.

Recipients of the Courage in Photojournalism Award will receive a cash prize of $20,000 and have their work showcased during an award ceremony. The IWMF will accept applications and third-party nominations in English until March 14, 2025. Please read the eligibility criteria and nomination guidelines, listed below, carefully before submitting a nomination. Entrants must be full-time women, nonbinary or gender non-conforming photojournalists of any nationality.

Applications are not accepted based on length of work or engagement in conflict areas. No matter your level of experience, you have a story to tell; if you are dedicated to your work in journalism and passionate about your content, apply!

What winners receive
One winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize.

About the International Women's Media Foundation
The International Women's Media Foundation is the only global organization built to serve the holistic needs of women and nonbinary journalists. We are a bold and inclusive organization that supports journalists where they are with awards, reporting opportunities, fellowships, grants, safety training and emergency aid. As one of the largest supporters of women-produced journalism, our transformative work strengthens equal opportunity and press freedom worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, and Instagram on @TheIWMF.

How to enter
Eligibility Criteria:
The award is open to women, nonbinary and gender nonconforming journalists.
The candidate must be working as a journalist full-time, and journalism must be their primary profession.
Both freelance journalists and those affiliated with media organizations are eligible.

Nomination and Application Guidelines:
Sign up for a free Picter account to submit for consideration. We are proud to work with Picter as our photography contest platform for the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award.
Each nomination and application must include candidate information, work samples made up of a series of 12 photographs, and a candidate/nomination statement.
A candidate may either self-nominate or be nominated by an editor, mentor or journalist peer. If you are nominating someone else, you may submit a full application (including a statement and work samples).

For Work Sample:
The required work samples are 12 photographs that best represent the scope and style of the candidate’s work, within the context of challenging reporting environments.
The submission cannot include videos, art photography, illustrations, images with watermarks, photo grids (multiple photos within one image), text overlaid onto or next to the photograph, and photographs not taken by the photographer. Submissions with these elements will not be considered.
Image size: minimum 1500px on the longest dimension, 72 dpi, JPG format
Each photograph must be accompanied by a caption in English describing the date, place, and situation captured.
Six (6) of the photos must have been taken within the past two years (2024-2026). The other six can be taken at any time during the candidate’s career.
Limit one award submission per photographer.

For Candidate/Nomination Statement:
Submissions must include an up-to-500 words candidate/nomination statement written in English that answers all four questions below. Please do not include your name or contact information in the statement or the filename. Submissions without statements will not be considered.
Please answer all four questions in your candidate statement:
What stories does the candidate tell through her photos?
Under what conditions does the candidate work?
How do the submitted photographs with this nomination capture the scope of the candidate’s work?
How do the candidate’s career and work reflect the values of Anja Niedringhaus?

^{Image: Stephanie Sinclair, Winner 2017}