Journalists Honored for Defending Press Freedom Amid Global
Awards ceremony recognizes journalists from the Philippines, Hungary, and Latin America for their courage in exposing human rights abuses, corruption, and
The International Press Institute and International Media Support honored several journalists and organizations for defending press freedom in July 2026. The awards recognized work exposing human rights violations, state corruption, and authoritarian regimes.
Jesper Højberg, executive director of International Media Support, emphasized the need for "collective resilience and resistance" to report on corruption, dictatorships, and organized crime. He stated that with limited resources and increasing threats, it matters how journalists come together to ensure protection, sustainability, and impact.
As challenges like disinformation and authoritarian influence cross borders, Højberg argued journalists must also connect internationally. They must share knowledge and strengthen alliances to match the scale of the threats they face.
Courage in the Face of Repression
Mónica González of Chile was honored for her investigative work during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. She exposed corruption, atrocities, and human rights abuses, which led to her imprisonment, exile, and legal persecution. González rejected the label of heroine, stating heroes "are alone and cannot love." She said she is surrounded by people who resist and confront what she called "the death machine."
"There is a death machine that turns the children of farmers into murderers and that kills, tortures, and burns beautiful, precious people who fight to change the face of my country and defend the right to love," González said. She became an investigative journalist to unravel that machine.
Documenting a Drug War's Toll
Patricia Evangelista challenged official narratives in the Philippines by documenting murders and disappearances under former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. Human rights organizations estimate around 30,000 people were killed. Evangelista uncovered how police systematically fabricated evidence, falsified causes of death, and manipulated crime scenes to justify persecuting poor communities.
She recounted Duterte's rhetoric dehumanizing drug users. "The president said he was killing these people because they weren’t human," Evangelista lamented. When asked why focusing on victims from a human perspective was important, she stated journalism is not a solitary act and that reporting occurred under a dehumanizing government.
Resisting Authoritarian Pressure
Szabolcs Panyi, representing Hungary's independent press, received an award for investigations into illegal surveillance, corruption, and authoritarianism in Central Europe. His work, and that of other Hungarian journalists, was important for informed voting in the April 2026 elections that ousted Viktor Orbán's government.
"What we have experienced in these last 16 years has been unprecedented," Panyi said. He felt allies had abandoned them, and it took 16 years to achieve global political support to dismantle the regime. Panyi was a target of government surveillance and had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware. The government labeled journalists as Russian spies to stifle their activity.
Panyi credited solidarity for saving the profession. Support from readers, Hungarian citizens, and the international journalistic community backed their investigations.
Building Cross-Border Solidarity
The Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP) received the Free Media Pioneer Award. Co-founder María Teresa Ronderos explained CLIP was born from a need to connect Latin American journalists. They aimed to tell regional stories about organized crime, corruption, and power abuses that transcend borders, and to strengthen the infrastructure supporting investigative journalism.
"Many people were, and continue to be, taking enormous risks to tell stories," Ronderos said. Many journalists face great risk and isolation when publishing investigations. CLIP was also created to provide protection. The award also honored Abzas Media and Meydan TV from Azerbaijan, whose representatives could not attend due to visa restrictions as they work in exile.
