Prof. Ann Rigney will moderate this year’s World Press Photo’s talks program entitled “The Stories that Matter”. For more information, see below or click herefor tickets.

The World Press Photo Foundation and De Nieuwe Kerk present The Stories That Matter – a talks program reflecting on today’s pressing topics through the eyes of photojournalists and critical thinkers.

This event brings together the public with the 2023 Contest winning photographers, who come from 23 different countries, from Morocco to the Philippines, Ecuador to Ukraine, and Armenia to Mexico. Throughout the day, they will showcase their work in the exhibition and engage in conversation with the audience.

On the talks stage, international speakers, thinkers and doers will explore, discuss and analyze the climate crisis, conflict and social justice; and in the social space, photobook experts will host a workshop on what makes a good photobook.

Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring day that illuminates the stories that matter.

Talks Stage

12.30 – 13.30: Framing the Future: Visual Storytelling and Climate Action

How can photography drive awareness of the climate crisis and what role can visual storytelling play in creating climate action?

Alice Aedy, United Kingdom, co-founder and CEO of Earthrise
Joi Lee, Korea/United States, head of editorial at Earthrise

14.30 – 15.30: Does Photography Speak Over Borders?

It is said that photos ‘speak’ across cultural and social divides, telling stories in more direct ways than language. But how do they do this? And is photography enough to create solidarity?

Moderators:

Ann Rigney, Ireland/the Netherlands, professor of Comparative Literature, Utrecht University
Kateryna Iakovlenko, Ukraine, visual culture researcher, writer, and curator
Sahar Shirzad, Afghanistan/the Netherlands, human rights activist, writer and program maker
Tina Farifteh, Iran/the Netherlands, photographer and filmmaker

16.30 – 17.30
Swimming with Crocodiles: Why Press Freedom Matters