In an era defined by disinformation, authoritarianism, and attacks on media freedom, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has named five extraordinary journalists as the recipients of its 36th annual Courage in Journalism Awards, including one imprisoned editor-in-chief. The announcement affirms a stark global reality: for many women journalists, telling the truth means risking everything.
2025 Courage in Journalism Award Winners:
- Sana Atef (Afghanistan) – Reporting under a pseudonym for Zan Times, Atef risks imprisonment or death to expose the Taliban’s brutal gender apartheid and human rights abuses against women and children. Her voice—one of the last remaining in her province—has become a beacon for the silenced.
- Juliana Dal Piva (Brazil) – An investigative powerhouse with the Latin American Center for Journalistic Investigation and ICL Notícias, Dal Piva’s fearless reporting on corruption and political violence has implicated powerful members of Brazil’s elite, including the Bolsonaro family. She has endured lawsuits, threats, and harassment for her work.
- Yousra Elbagir (Sudan/UK) – The Sky News Africa correspondent continues to report from the frontlines of conflict and displacement, including inside war-torn Sudan and rebel-occupied Congo. In a region where reporters are routinely targeted, Elbagir’s storytelling brings global awareness to underreported crises.
- Maritza L. Félix (U.S./Mexico) – The founder of Conecta Arizona, Félix launched her bilingual news service from her kitchen table during the pandemic. Today, her platform combats misinformation, connects migrants with vital resources, and reframes the border as a space of resilience—not just crisis.
- Aynur Elgunesh (Azerbaijan) – Awarded the 2025 Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, Elgunesh is the jailed editor-in-chief of Meydan TV, detained in December 2024 on fabricated smuggling charges. Her reporting on corruption and human rights violations in Azerbaijan has long made her a target of state repression. She remains in prison, her health deteriorating, a stark reminder of journalism’s growing cost.
A Global Alarm for Press Freedom
Each of these journalists operates in one of the world’s most dangerous environments for the press. From authoritarian censorship in Afghanistan and Azerbaijan to politically charged disinformation wars in Brazil and Sudan, their collective stories illustrate a grim global pattern: journalism is being criminalized, especially when it threatens power.
“The courage of these women cuts through silence and fear,” said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Muñoz. “Journalism like theirs doesn’t just inform – it defends democracy.”
The IWMF Courage Awards have long served as a counter-narrative to global media suppression. Since 1990, the awards have recognized women who report against all odds—whether from war zones, under threat of imprisonment, or from exile.
This year’s honorees remind us that journalism is not just a job—it’s an act of resistance.
Public Recognition Events
The 2025 Courage in Journalism Award recipients will be honored at:
- New York City (Nov. 10) – Luncheon
- Washington, D.C. (Nov. 16) – Evening Reception
- Los Angeles (Nov. 18) – Evening Reception
More details and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting courage@iwmf.org.
A Message of Hope Amid Fear
From Sana Atef’s anonymous dispatches in Taliban-occupied Afghanistan to Maritza Félix’s community journalism on the U.S.-Mexico border, the 2025 awardees embody a journalism that is deeply personal—and desperately needed.
As Elgunesh said from prison:
“To be a journalist in Azerbaijan is one of the most difficult and risky professions. To be a woman journalist is to carry an even heavier burden.”
By recognizing their work, the IWMF affirms that truth-tellers are not forgotten, and that even when silenced, their courage echoes around the world.
