Amsterdam, Netherlands—Building on established photo as well as multimedia contests, the World Press Photo Foundation introduced initiatives to deliver its expanded mission of inspiring, educating and supporting visual journalism globally.
2017 World Press Photo Contest. Having opened for entries on December 1, 2016, judging will be held mid-January 2017. Subsequently, the winners will be announced in Amsterdam on February 13. The 60th edition of the contest rewards the best single-exposure pictures contributing to visual journalism. Entries are judged for their accurate, fair and also visually compelling insights about the world.
Digital Storytelling Contest. Formerly the multimedia contest, it also opened December 1, 2016 and will be judged at the same time as the photo contest. It recognizes those storytellers producing the best digital forms of visual journalism.
World Press Photo Festival of Visual Journalism. The public event will be held in Amsterdam April 20–22, 2017, showcasing the world’s best image makers and visual stories. It will feature interviews, as well as presentations and screenings by prizewinners from the photo and digital storytelling contests. In addition, international leaders will discuss transformations in the media landscape.
World Press Photo Live. This series of global debates will begin with an international event in May. The debates will highlight issues of importance for visual journalism, such as new ways of reporting and storytelling. Also, up to four daylong events a year will be held in different cities.
The 6×6 Global Talent Program. Beginning July 2017, this new program, directed by the foundation’s executive director, Lars Boering, will identify six new talents from each of the world’s six continents.
Joop Swart Master Class. Held in Amsterdam in September, this master class is the pinnacle of the foundation’s educational programs. It is named in honor of a former chairman. Furthermore, the class is supported by satellite master classes outside of Europe to enhance the diversity of talent.
Creative Documentary Photography Contest. Held in October, it will award the most imaginative ways of telling stories. It will be for professional visual storytellers who, in wanting to communicate about actual people, events or issues, deploy creative techniques in constructing, processing and presenting images.
World Press Photo Publication 
In addition, the foundation’s new publication, Witness, launched on medium.com November 1, 2016. Its name reflects the foundation’s strategy of building on its heritage to promote new thinking and new talent. worldpressphoto.org
