Independent photojournalism and documentary photographyare indispensable tools of political educationfor a democratic society and an essential part of shapingpublic opinion-especially in our so-called 'post-factual'times. In recognition of this, the independent non-profitorganization World Press Photo Foundation, based inAmsterdam, has been presenting the World Press PhotoAward for the best photo, the best story, the best longtermproject of the year for more than six decades. Thewinning images in the various categories tell bold storiesand provide invaluable insights into the state of our world. A photograph by Mohammed Salem for Reuters from the Gaza war is the press photo of the year and also the cover illustration - it shows a Palestinian woman holding her five-year-old niece, who was killed when a missile hit her home in Khan Younis, Gaza, tightly on her lap.