IPI and IMS announce 2026 recipients of World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards

This year’s awardees demonstrate remarkable courage, ingenuity and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges to freedom and independent journalism around the world

Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2026 10:15 am

Staff | International Press Institute

Today, the International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) are proud to announce this year’s recipients of the World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards, who together demonstrate remarkable courage, ingenuity and resilience amid an increasingly challenging environment for press freedom and independent journalism around the world.

The 2026 recipients of the World Press Freedom Hero Award are Patricia Evangelista (Philippines), Mónica González (Chile), and Hungary’s independent journalists. ...

The recipients of the Free Media Pioneer Award are the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (El CLIP) and Abzas Media and Meydan TV (Azerbaijan).

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IPI and IMS announce 2026 recipients of World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards

This year’s awardees demonstrate remarkable courage, ingenuity and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges to freedom and independent journalism around the world

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