Ahead of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, IPI and IMS announced the 11 organizations shortlisted for the 2024 IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award. This year, two organizations from Ukraine made it to the shortlist: Women in Media and Bihus Info.
“These outstanding organizations from around the globe are meeting the moment by defending press freedom, filling crucial gaps in quality, investigative reporting, or driving media innovation. Amid growing threats to independent journalism, these organizations are a reminder of the power and resilience of the free press”, – the organizers said.
The shortlisted organizations, in alphabetical order, are:
• Agência Pública, Brazil
• Bihus.info, Ukraine
• Cenozo, Burkina Faso
• Daily Maverick, South Africa
• Filastiniyat.org, Palestine
• Hong Kong Free Press, Hong Kong
• Kloop, Kyrgyzstan
• Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
• Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, Serbia
• Tribal News Network, Pakistan
• Women in Media, Ukraine
Presented annually since 1996, the IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award honours trailblazing news outlets or media defence groups.
This year, IPI and IMS are once again publishing a global shortlist for the award to underscore the scope and diversity of organizations upholding the public’s right to quality, independent news, often in repressive or hostile media environments.
One of these shortlisted organizations will later be selected to receive this year’s Free Media Pioneer award. The award will be presented together with the IPI-IMS World Press Freedom Hero award at a special ceremony as part of the 2024 IPI World Congress on Thursday, May 23 in Sarajevo.
Women in Media was established in 2019 to foster solidarity among women journalists in Ukraine. Originally a Facebook group, it has evolved into a thriving professional hub and network, providing training, job opportunities, and psychological, financial, and organizational support to its 1,500 members, with a particular focus on the health and well-being of female journalists. The organizations bring together women working in the media to achieve gender equality primarily in two ways: ensuring fair treatment for women inside the media industry and promoting gender-balanced media content in Ukraine. Like many other other organizations in Ukraine, it has stepped up and adapted its work following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, one of its initiatives included medical check-ups and one-year paid health insurance benefiting a total of 57 women journalists across cities and regions of Ukraine.
Women in Media Team:
“It’s a great honour for us to be nominated. Given that Women in Media was established only 5 years ago, with 2 years of that time being during the pandemic, and over two years of full-scale war, this nomination holds special significance for us. Media has a crucial role to contribute to gender equality progress. Empowering women in media is particularly important now, given the ongoing Russian military aggression in Ukraine since 2014. In small newsrooms, one woman often holds several positions due to a lack of personnel and resources. Our study indicates that low incomes in the media industry and the mobilization of men contribute to the predominance of women in leader roles in Ukrainian media. Ukrainian female journalists handle multiple tasks and risks, as they not only work in dangerous conditions but also take care of children and relatives. Like millions of other women worldwide, they deal with gender-based challenges daily. We are here to highlight these problems and help us through self-support. We are vulnerable, but we are strong.”