Gaza Herald — The 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom will be awarded to the professional photo and video journalists working in Gaza, in recognition of their continued documentation of war, destruction, and the human toll experienced across the besieged territory.
The award, presented by WAN-IFRA during the opening of the 2026 World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, recognizes Palestinian media professionals who have continued reporting under extraordinary and dangerous conditions, while also acknowledging colleagues injured or killed in the course of their work.
For more than two and a half years, journalists in Gaza have documented scenes of death, displacement, devastation, and civilian suffering while operating amid ongoing bombardment and severe restrictions.
The recognition comes against the backdrop of a war that began following the events of 7 October 2023 and has since developed into one of the deadliest periods ever recorded for journalists. More than 260 journalists have reportedly been killed during the war, the majority of them in Gaza. Research by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found that dozens of these journalists were deliberately targeted by Israeli military forces, raising serious international legal concerns. Despite repeated calls for accountability, families and colleagues continue to seek justice.
With international media access to Gaza largely restricted unless operating under Israeli military conditions, Palestinian journalists have carried much of the responsibility for documenting both the humanitarian crisis and the daily realities of life under war.
Their reporting, according to the award citation, has shaped global understanding of the conflict and preserved a visual record of destruction and human suffering that might otherwise have remained unseen.
As part of the award programme, WAN-IFRA will host an exhibition featuring work produced by photographers and videographers whose reporting has informed international coverage of Gaza. The programme will also include a screening of Inside Gaza, a documentary following AFP’s Palestinian journalists and examining the challenges of reporting after international media access became increasingly limited.
WAN-IFRA also highlighted ongoing support for Palestinian media professionals through initiatives focused on sustaining journalism in crisis conditions, including grants, mentorship, training, and editorial assistance for freelance women journalists in Gaza.
The Golden Pen of Freedom remains an annual recognition of contributions to press freedom and the defence of independent journalism worldwide.
