These are challenging times. Press freedom is under attack and disinformation clouds the public square. Hope is elusive, but hope is the star to which we at the National Press Foundation have hitched our wagon. Our core competencies of training young journalists and celebrating extraordinary reporting are, to me, the very definition of hope. These twin pillars of the NPF mission — empowering the next generation and honoring journalistic excellence — are an investment in the future and investing in the future is the work of the hopeful.

Our training programs equip early-career journalists with the tools and the ethical grounding they need to navigate the increasingly complex media environment. Every time young reporters leave our programs more confident and more capable we are reminded that the future of journalism is not some distant ideal — it is an immediate and urgent issue that we must address.

Annual Report 2024 by National Press Foundation on Scribd

Equally inspiring is our annual recognition of the best work in journalism. By shining a spotlight on those who expose corruption, give voice to the voiceless, and tell the untold stories, we reaffirm the power and purpose of the very best journalism and the journalists who produce that work.

Our annual awards celebrate high achievement, but they also serve as inspiration to others to reach higher, dig deeper, and stand firm in their commitment to truth.

The National Press Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthen journalism by supporting those who practice it. It’s not just a tagline: We do make good journalists better.

As we look to the year ahead, worried about the erosion of so much that we hold dear, I will remind you that every new, well-trained reporter and every story they produce — award-winning or not — is another brick to the bedrock of democracy. Together these things constitute a better future. This is not a passive wish, but an active commitment to a more informed and just society.

Thank you for standing with us. Our work would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors, donors and volunteers, and a multitude of friends.

With thanks and boundless gratitude,

Terence Samuel