Special exhibition for the World Press Freedom Conference 2020
People, Power: Documenting protest since 1957
The World Press Photo Foundation connects the world to the stories that matter. Now more than ever, supporting the conditions for freedom of expression, freedom of inquiry, and freedom of the press is a fundamental part of our work.
As part of our commitment to press freedom, the World Press Photo Foundation is an official partner of the World Press Freedom Conference 2020, taking place digitally from 9-10 December 2020. In collaboration with UNESCO and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have curated a special exhibition showcasing protest and people power images from the World Press Photo Contests archive.
Since 1995, our annual contests recognize and celebrate the best visual journalism produced over the last year. The independent juries have over the years awarded many pictures of protest, starting with Douglas Martin’s photograph of Dorothy Counts in 1957, a symbol of resistance against racism; and finishing with Yasuyoshi Chiba’s Straight Voice, awarded World Press Photo of the Year in the 2020 Photo Contest, capturing the hope and resilience of protesters in Sudan. The exhibition shows images that, like Charlie Cole’s picture of Tiananmen Square in 1990, have become global symbols of people power, and celebrates the work of professional photographers who are showing us the stories that matter.
Recent technological transformations have given visuals an even more important role in communications today. Reporting on protests often comes with risks. The World Press Freedom Conference 2020 strives for free and independent media, and the protection of journalism from new and persistent forms of control. At a time when the freedom of the press is under attack in so many countries, we need these professionals more than ever.
The exhibition will be displayed in public spaces The Netherlands and is free for visitors.
