World News Photography Foundation

The World News Photography Foundation firmly believes in the power of presentation and the importance of seeing high-quality visual stories. It all began in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organized an international competition ("World News Photography") to showcase their works to a global audience.

For sixty years, the World News Photography Foundation has been operating as an independent non-profit organization in Amsterdam. During this period, the world was constantly changing, and new developments in media and technology also changed the way journalism and storytelling were conducted. Its mission continues to expand and utilize its experience to guide visual journalists, storytellers, and audiences around the world in this challenging and exciting field.

In the past few years, the foundation has taken numerous measures and launched multiple projects to encourage a more diverse and inclusive world image. Since the first release of participant data in 2015, significant progress has been made, and the demand for diversity has been presented more transparently. However, continuous efforts must be made to achieve a more inclusive and diverse visual journalism industry, emphasizing multiple voices to provide a more balanced worldview.

Therefore, the World News Photography Foundation launched a new strategy in 2021, which includes changes to its competitions, exhibitions, and educational programs. The 2022 competition is the result of the first year of this new strategy, proudly stating that the geographical distribution of the winners is more balanced, and most of the award-winning photographers are locals from the countries they document, bringing a more nuanced perspective and better understanding. The award-winning story documents a range of issues, from the undeniable impact of the climate crisis to the civil rights movement, from access to education to protecting indigenous customs and identity.