The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) has launched its global search for recipients of the 2026 ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award.
This prestigious honor recognizes media professionals whose pioneering coverage or innovations have significantly impacted lives within their home countries or regions.
The program specifically seeks individuals whose work has driven positive change in environments where the press faces major challenges.
By highlighting these voices, the ICFJ aims to celebrate the courage and ingenuity required to report in difficult circumstances.
Benefits
Winners of this award will be honored on a global stage during the ICFJ Awards Dinner 2026, held in Washington, D.C., in November.
This high-profile event provides a platform for honorees to share their stories with a diverse audience of international media leaders.
The award is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, an organization dedicated to fostering excellence in journalism.
Honorees join an elite roster of past winners who have uncovered massacres, torture, and resource extraction, or developed innovative ways to reach audiences in restrictive settings.
Nomination requirements and eligibility
The call is open to a wide range of media professionals, including reporters, editors, technologists, and citizen journalists.
Applicants must be from countries where they face significant obstacles while conducting their work.
Qualified candidates are allowed to nominate themselves, or they may be nominated by colleagues who recognize their impact.
The selection process focuses on the pioneering nature of the work and its tangible effect on the lives of people in the nominee’s region.
The award values media innovations that overcome restrictive information environments and involve citizens in the news process.
Nominees should demonstrate how their coverage or technological solutions have moved the needle on transparency or social justice.
Deadline
Potential candidates must ensure their nomination materials are prepared and submitted early in the year.
The final deadline for all submissions for the 2026 cycle is February 8. Click HERE to visit the ICFJ call page for details. Explore our global opportunities page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
