Following our New Year Message series, we are grateful to have received thoughtful reflections from journalists around the world. From different countries, cultures, and professional
backgrounds, they share common aspirations and dedications.
In their messages, our colleagues reflect on what journalism stands for today – empathy in storytelling, rigor with facts, ethical responsibility, dialogue over division, and the enduring mission to serve society. They also speak of journalism not just as a profession, but as a calling shaped by courage, cooperation, and care for humanity. We thank them for sharing their insights, hopes, and encouragement with our community. Read the full texts of their reflections below, and You’re also welcome to share your words for 2026 with our global journalism community on Home of Journalists Facebook !
As we look ahead to the new year, we hope to carry this spirit of connection and exchange forward – not only online, but in person as well. On January 26, Home of Journalists in Beijing will host a Spring Festival reception for journalists, bringing our online connections offline as we gather to welcome the new year, ahead of the Year of the Horse in China.
1. Helena Kočová, Journalists, Naší pravda,Czech republic
Hi, my message for home of journalist: Being a journalist is not just a job – it is a calling. A journey of hard work, honesty, honor, and the constant pursuit of truth.
Through shared stories and mutual support, we can shape not only better news – but a better world.
May the coming Year of the Fire Horse be filled with new paths, positive stories, courage, truth, and peace.
2. Moacyr de Oliveira Filho, Director of Journalism at the Brazilian Press Association – ABI
New Year’s Message for Journalists Around the World
2025 comes to an end as an intense, difficult, and revealing year. It was a time of conflict, uncertainty, threats to democracy, visible and invisible wars, attacks on truth and the very art of informing. But it was also a year of resistance: of reports that did not remain silent, of photographs that denounced, of chronicles that humanized, of investigations that illuminated what they tried to hide.
We remain standing—not always unscathed, but aware that journalism continues to be one of the most powerful ways to defend human dignity.
As we approach 2026, we renew not only calendars, but also commitments: to the facts, to ordinary people, to the memory of those who fought before us, and to the hope of those who are yet to come.
May the coming year bring us more bridges than walls, more listening than hatred, more justice than fear. May we be granted health to continue, courage to persevere, and sensitivity not to harden ourselves. May we know how to protect one another, care for our newsrooms and organizations, and never abandon those who depend on our voice to exist in the world.
Let us continue defending freedom of the press, human rights, peace, the strengthening of the Global South, intensifying relations and exchanges with China, denouncing violence against journalists, wars and genocides, especially that perpetrated by Israel in the Gaza Strip, combating fake news and defending the regulation of big tech companies.
To all journalists—from large agencies to small community radio stations, from war correspondents to neighborhood reporters—I send my wishes for peace, protection, clarity, and tenderness.
May 2026 be a year in which truth encounters fewer obstacles and humanity, more paths.
With affection and hope.
3. Fiifi Nii Nettey Nettey, Freelance Journalist, Ghana
Let’s Make the World a Better Place in 2026
As journalists, our duty is to serve the public interest by being the voice of the voiceless, acting as watchdogs, and keeping society well informed.
The past year was rewarding for me as I highlighted issues of public concern and amplified unheard voices. The 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum was especially enriching, offering global perspectives, meaningful exchanges, and discussions on collaboration and responsible journalism.
As we step into 2026, I hope for a stronger commitment to fact-based journalism and the rejection of misinformation. I remain dedicated to telling stories that promote understanding, accountability, peace, and development.
Happy New Year.
4. Kirtan Bhana, Founder and President of The Diplomatic Society, South Africa
As we approach the close of the year, The Diplomatic Society extends warm festive greetings to our community of diplomats, policymakers, scholars, business leaders, artists and engaged global citizens.
This year has unfolded against a backdrop of shifting international relations,profound geopolitical realignments, and renewed debates about sovereignty,development, peace and cooperation. In such a climate, diplomacy has prove nonce again to be not merely a formal instrument of statecraft,but a vital human practice -one rooted in dialogue, trust-building, awareness and mutual understanding.
At a time when global narratives are increasingly fragmented, diplomacy remains the bridge that connects cultures, histories and perspectives. It allows differences to be engaged with dignity, tensions to be managed through reason,and partnerships to be forged on the basis of respect rather than coercion.Whether through formal engagements or people-to-people exchanges, diplomacy continues to shape a more informed and interconnected world.
The Diplomatic Society is proud to serve as a platform where diverse voices converge, where dialogue is encouraged, and where insight and understanding are nurtured across borders and disciplines. Our collective commitment to thoughtful engagement and principled discourse strengthens the foundations of international cooperation, particularly in an era that demands clarity, empathy and balance.
As we celebrate this festive season, may it offer a moment of reflection, renewal and hope. May the coming year bring greater wisdom in leadership, deeper cooperation among nations, and a shared resolve to advance peace, development and mutual respect.
We wish you and your loved ones a peaceful festive season and a year ahead marked by constructive dialogue, understanding and meaningful collaboration.
With warm regards.
5. Sherif Badea-Elnour, Journalist from Egypt
As we step into a new year, I am reminded that journalism is not only a profession—it is a responsibility.
The past year has once again proven how fragile truth can be, and how essential journalists are in protecting it. In a world overwhelmed by noise, speed, and polarization, our role is not merely to report events, but to give them meaning, context, and humanity.
Journalism, at its best, builds bridges rather than walls. It listens before it judges, explains before it reacts, and seeks understanding over sensation. Across cultures, borders, and ideologies, journalists remain united by one core mission: to serve the public’s right to know with integrity, courage, and compassion.
Looking ahead to the coming year, I believe the future of journalism depends on our ability to stay human in an age increasingly driven by algorithms. Technology may change how stories are told, but only empathy can explain why they matter. Credibility, independence, and ethical responsibility must remain our strongest anchors.
My hope for the new year is simple:
that journalists continue to stand on the side of truth,
that dialogue prevails over division,
and that our shared work contributes to a more informed, peaceful, and connected world.
Wishing my fellow journalists around the globe a year of strength, clarity, and meaningful storytelling.
Happy New Year.