The World Press Photo Foundation announced the results of the 62nd annual World Press Photo Contest and the 9th annual World Press Photo Digital Storytelling Contest, at its annual Awards Show in Amsterdam, on 11 April.
The jury of the 2019 Photo Contest selected John Moore’s image Crying Girl on the Border as the World Press Photo of the Year.
The winning image shows Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez crying as she and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, are taken into custody by US border officials in McAllen, Texas, USA, on 12 June 2018. After this picture was published worldwide, US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Yanela and her mother had not been among the thousands who had been separated by US officials. Nevertheless, public outcry over the controversial practice resulted in President Donald Trump reversing the policy on 20 June. Learn more about the image here.
John Moore, World Press Photo of the Year winner: “I think this image touched many people's hearts, as it did mine, because it humanizes a larger story. When you see Yanela’s face, and she is more than two years old now, you really see the humanity and the fear of making such a long journey and crossing a border in the dead of night.”
John Moore is a senior staff photographer and special correspondent for Getty Images. He has photographed in 65 countries on six continents and was posted internationally for 17 years. Since returning to the U.S. in 2008 he has since focused on immigration and border issues.
Whitney C. Johnson, vice president, Visuals and Immersive Experiences, at National Geographic and 2019 Photo Contest jury chair: “Ideally a [World Press Photo] Photo of the Year would be surprising, unique, relevant, memorable.”
She describes the winning photograph: “The details in the picture are interesting. From the gloves that the border patrol officer is wearing to the fact that the shoelaces have been removed.”
Alice Martins, photojournalist and jury member, also adds: “It immediately tells you so much about the story. And at the same time, it really makes you feel so connected to it (...). This picture shows a different kind of violence that is psychological.”
To put the spotlight on the stories that matter, this year the World Press Photo Foundation introduced the World Press Photo Story of the Year award. The jury chose The Migrant Caravan by Pieter Ten Hoopen (Netherlands/Sweden), as World Press Photo Story of the Year.
The winning series documents the largest migrant caravan in recent memory, with as many as 7,000 travelers, including at least 2,300 children, according to UN agencies. The caravan, assembled through a grassroots social media campaign, left San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on 12 October, and as word spread drew people from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. Learn more about the story here.
Pieter van Hoopen, World Press Photo Story of the Year nominee: “I wanted to cover what it means to be on the road to a new life - or what people hope to become a new life. I wanted to focus on the human aspects, on relations between the people and how they handle it.”
Pieter Ten Hoopen is a member of Agency VU in Paris, as well as the founder of the company Civilian Act in Stockholm Sweden. Pieter has worked with aftermaths of war and humanitarian crisis since 2004.
“The World Press Photo Story of the Year had to hold together visually, it had to be very cohesive, the editing of the story itself had to be quite strong, and the storytelling had to be there, there had to be different elements of the scenario,” says Johnson.
Yumi Goto, independent photography curator and 2019 Photo Contest jury member, says about the image: “There is such a high sense of dignity. It really tells me about hope, what hope really means.”
Nana Kofi Acquah, photographer at Getty Images and jury member, adds: “They slowed themselves down, and carefully picked at the story, picked at the strands that matter. And told the story beautifully.”
The prizes for the eight categories of the 2019 Photo Contest were also announced during the awards show. See the 2019 World Press Photo Contest winners gallery.
The independent jury of the 2019 Digital Storytelling Contest selected The Last Generation, by FRONTLINE/The GroundTruth Project, as World Press Photo Interactive of the Year.
The Last Generation, brings audiences into the lives of three children from the Marshall Islands, who face losing not just their homes, but their entire nation to rising seas. Through intimate moments and compelling stories, the film’s young protagonists draw us into the importance and urgency of what is at stake. Learn more about the production here.
“The story is called The Last Generation because it’s predicted that with current carbon emissions, seas will rise to the point where the Marshall Islands islands could become uninhabitable in the lifetime of the children that we speak to in this story,” says Michelle Mizner, writer/producer of the production.
Zahra Rasool, head of Al Jazeera’s immersive media studio, Contrast VR, and this year’s chair of the Digital Storytelling Contest jury, says about the production: “It really stood out, both in terms of the story and the structure and tools used. Climate change is really the most important issue of our time. Three children, representing the past, the present, and the future, are used to tell the story in a brilliant and touching way. This is a story that we feel must be spotlighted. The use of the tools was very effective and makes the story more impactful, immersive and touching, rather than hindering it.”
Sara Kolster, interactive director and designer and 2019 Digital Storytelling jury member, adds: “It was a clever choice to tell it from the perspective of children: the generation that has to deal with the effects of climate change. It gave them an important voice and made the stories very personal.”
The World Press Photo Interactive of the Year award was introduced in 2019 to celebrate the production that creates engaging interactive storytelling through skillful editing and design and effective synergy of form and content. “We’re looking for productions that not only try using different technologies but also try them purposefully,” adds Muyi Xiao, visual editor of ChinaFile and 2019 Digital Storytelling Contest jury member.
Zahra Rasool explains why the 2019 Digital Storytelling Contest jury selected this production: “This issue is widely reported on, but not on the people that suffer from it: the children, the families, the communities. The story follows a child returning to Guatemala, her school, her teachers, the children... This is the voice that was missing. It is a strong voice and the intimacy is special and touching.”
Zoeann Murphy visual journalist and 2019 Digital Storytelling jury member adds: “For me, one of the most important qualities of this piece is that we hear directly from the people most impacted by this huge news story.“
The World Press Photo Online Video of the Year award celebrates a video produced for the web, which through skillful editing and audio-visual design tells a compelling story with an impact. Muyi Xiao: “We value the piece that will make us have a very long-lasting reflection on the issue after watching it.”
The jury chose The Legacy of the ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy: Traumatized Children With No Access to Treatment, by Univision News Digital, as World Press Photo Online Video of the Year.
The film tells the story of Adayanci Pérez, one of more than 2,500 children who were separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border as part of Donald Trump’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy. Learn more about the production here.
Almudena Toral, Director, cinematographer and editor of the awarded production: “We wondered what was the impact for the children specifically, knowing many of them were so young. It gives a direct voice to people affected by big policies and shows, in a very emotional way, the consequences of policies decided in government circles that directly affect people who are very vulnerable.” -
Zahra Rasool explains why the 2019 Digital Storytelling Contest jury selected this production: “This issue is widely reported on, but not on the people that suffer from it: the children, the families, the communities. The story follows a child returning to Guatemala, her school, her teachers, the children... This is the voice that was missing. It is a strong voice and the intimacy is special and touching.”
Zoeann Murphy visual journalist and 2019 Digital Storytelling jury member adds: “For me, one of the most important qualities of this piece is that we hear directly from the people most impacted by this huge news story.“
The World Press Photo Online Video of the Year award celebrates a video produced for the web, which through skillful editing and audio-visual design tells a compelling story with an impact. Muyi Xiao: “We value the piece that will make us have a very long-lasting reflection on the issue after watching it.”
The prizes for the ‘Long’ and ‘Short’ category were also announced at the awards show. You can see the overview of the winners here.
Access the media kit to see the winners, download high-resolution images and find out more about the 2019 Photo Contest and the Digital Storytelling Contest.
