“Two years ago, changing a long-established contest model seemed like a radical step. Looking back, that step seems more sensible than daring. We needed to better represent the incredible talent in press photography from across the world. While we have a long way to go, the results so far have brought us a new energy and conviction that we are going in the right direction.” - Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director, World Press Photo
As the world gets smaller and more interdependent, we need mutual understanding that can foster dialogue that breaks through polarization. Accurate, diverse and trustworthy photojournalism and documentary photography has a vital role to play.
Observing the results of our regional strategy so far, although an ongoing process, we see encouraging signs that it is gaining momentum. The year brought with it many noteworthy moments, including a four-city tour of the annual exhibition to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odesa in Ukraine. The winner of World Press Photo of the Year in 2023 and Ukraine native, Evgeniy Maloletka, was a special guest at the opening in Kyiv, as well as at the opening of the Flagship Exhibition 2023 at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.
Each year has also seen a small increase in the number of entrants from Africa and South America, as well as a steady increase in the number of female and non-binary, queer and gender fluid entrants.
Applying the regional strategy involves being open to learning from mistakes as well as successes. The Impact Report 2023 documents this process. It reflects on our values and long-term outlook as an organization, and transparently shares what we have achieved, our challenges and where there is still work to be done.
Image credits from top to bottom, left to right: Evgeniy Maloletka, Associated Press; Oleg Samoylenko; Alizé Barthélemy Photography; Frank van Beek, ANP; Wendy van Bree Fotografie; Frank van Beek, ANP.
