”We are close to the end of a trying year for gender equity and press freedom”, IMWF Executive Director, Elisa Lees Munoz wrote in a message to clients.
It was a hard year for many, especially those who fight for the right to report. The United States fell to its lowest position ever on the World Press Freedom Index, and 2025 tied the deadliest year on record for journalists, with devastating losses across Gaza, Mexico, Sudan, and Ukraine.
This year tested the standards of journalism and the endurance of democratic institutions that have long upheld them.
Related Stories
And yet, it also revealed remarkable resistance and resolve.
Your commitment to the IWMF demonstrated that by supporting a free, independent, and diverse press, we can continue to serve local populations facing increasing news deserts; war-torn frontlines whose communities seek connection; and freelancers who will never stop reporting, even if their safety is at risk.
Courage in news media still burns brightly, thanks to you.
For the IWMF, the importance of ethics in journalism, and of fact-based, transparent reporting, is clearer now than ever before. Building power through community and collective action will remain the foundation that sustains our work for years to come.
On behalf of our staff and Board of Directors, thank you for standing with journalists and for your commitment to the truth, no matter the cost.
With gratitude and hope,
Elisa Lees Muñoz
Executive Director, IWMF
