Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award 2027

AI policy

Photographs must not be manipulated in any way, except for basic color and contrast correction, along with minor lightness and darkness adjustments. Digitally enhanced or altered photographs, beyond the basics noted above, are unacceptable.

RAW files

The IWMF reserves the right to ask finalists or the winner for the RAW, or original camera files captured directly by the camera, to be submitted for review if the submission advances to final rounds of judging.

Editing rules

The application guidelines limit editing to basic colour and contrast correction and minor lightness adjustments and declare digitally enhanced or altered photographs unacceptable; generative AI is not named, so the value is implicit-banned. The FAQ describes the enforcement: after the deadline the IWMF and a third-party photography consultant review all submissions for enhancements, alterations and manipulations outside basic photo editing, and finalists are asked for RAW or original camera files for the consultant to review. Eligibility is restricted to women, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming journalists working full-time in journalism.