IPI Press Freedom Laureates
IPI-IMS Press Freedom Laureates are journalists who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to ensuring the public has access to independent news and information, often in the face of political pressure and personal risk.
The award, known until 2026 as the IPI World Press Freedom Hero award, was first given to 50 journalists in 2000 as part of a special ceremony at IPI’s 50th anniversary World Congress in Boston. In 2010, we brought the list to 60 at a special ceremony in Vienna. The award is now given annually.
Since 2015, IPI has been proud to present the award in partnership with International Media Support (IMS).
2026 Awards recepients
Our past awardees
Mzia Amaglobeli
Georgia (2025)
Martin Baron
United States (2025)
Mariam Abu Dagga (posthumous)
Palestine (2025)
Gustavo Gorriti
Peru (2025)
Jimmy Lai
Hong Kong (2025)
Victoria Roshchyna (posthumous)
Ukraine (2025)
Tesfalem Waldyes
Ethiopia (2025)
Palestinian journalists covering Gaza
Palestine (2024)
Carmen Aristegui
Mexico (2023)
Shireen Abu Akleh
Palestine (2023)
Carlos Dada
El Salvador (2022)
Yuliya Slutskaya
Belarus (2021)
Cyril Almeida
Pakistan (2019)
Rafael Marques
Angola (2018)
Eskinder Nega
Ethiopia (2017)
Ahmad Zeidabadi
Iran (2016)
Mazen Darwish
Syria (2015)
Mashallah Shamsolvaezin
Iran (2014)
Marie Colvin
Syria (2013)
Mika Yamamoto
Syria (2013)
David Rohde
US (2012)
Daniel Pearl
US (2011)
Raymond Louw
South Africa (2011)
Yoani Sánchez
Cuba (2010)
Akbar Ganji
Iran (2010)
Pap Saine
Gambia (2010)
Nedim Şener
Turkey (2010)
Laurence Gandar
South Africa (2010)
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro
Mexico (2010)
May Chidiac
Lebanon (2010)
Lasantha Wickrematunge
Sri Lanka (2010)
Hrant Dink
Turkey (2007)
Anna Politkovskaya
Russia (2006)
Aslam Ali
Pakistan (2000)
Rudolf Augstein
Germany (2000)
Omar Belhouchet
Algeria (2000)
Kenneth Best
Liberia (2000)
Hubert Beuve-Méry
France (2000)
J. Jesús Blancornelas
Mexico (2000)
Grémah Boukar Koura
Niger (2000)
José Burgos Jr.
Philippines (2000)
Guillermo Cano Isaza
Colombia (2000)
Juan Pablo Cárdenas
Chile (2000)
Pedro Joaquín Chamorro
Nicaragua (2000)
Suk-Chae Choi
Korea (2000)
Júlio De Mesquita Neto
Brazil (2000)
Jiri Dienstbier
Czech Republic (2000)
Harold Evans
United Kingdom (2000)
Antonio Fontán
Spain (2000)
Gao Yu
China (2000)
Katherine Graham
USA (2000)
Veronica Guerin
Ireland (2000)
Shiro Hara
Japan (2000)
Amira Hass
Israel (2000)
Tara Singh Hayer
Canada (2000)
Đoàn Viết Hoạt
Vietnam (2000)
Abdi İpekçi
Turkey (2000)
Kemal Kurspahić
Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000)
Daoud Kuttab
Palestine (2000)
Gwen Lister
Namibia (2000)
Mochtar Lubis
Indonesia (2000)
Kronid Arkadyevich Lyubarsky
Russia (2000)
Savea Sano Malifa
Samoa (2000)
Veran Matić
Serbia (2000)
Adam Michnik
Poland (2000)
Fred M’membe
Zambia (2000)
Indro Montanelli
Italy (2000)
Nizar Nayyouf
Syria (2000)
Freedom Neruda
Cote d'Ivoire (2000)
Pius Njawé
Cameroon (2000)
Germán Ornes
Dominican Republic (2000)
Percy Qoboza
South Africa (2000)
Raúl Rivero
Cuba (2000)
Nuno Rocha
Portugal (2000)
Faraj Sarkohi
Iran (2000)
Arun Shourie
India (2000)
André Sibomana
Rwanda (2000)
U Thaung
Myanmar (2000)
Jacobo Timerman
Argentina (2000)
Ricardo Uceda
Peru (2000)
Eleni Vlachou
Greek (2000)
C.E.L. Wickremesinghe
Sri Lanka (2000)
José Rubén Zamora
Guatemala (2000)