#2 Joumana El Zein Khoury on rebalancing World Press Photo, AI, and why culture is a basic need

Joumana El Zein Khoury has spent her career building bridges between culture under pressure and the people who need to see it. Born in Beirut in 1975 and now based in the Netherlands, she previously led the Prince Claus Fund and worked with the Arab Image Foundation in Beirut before becoming executive director of the World Press Photo Foundation in 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic.In this episode, Joumana talks about:Why she calls herself a "democratic dictator," and how she led World Press Photo through a full organizational transitionWhy the foundation introduced selection criteria requiring at least one local and one female or non-binary winner per region, and what actually changed as a resultHow World Press Photo deals with AI-generated and AI-edited images in a photojournalism contest, and where it draws the lineWhy she believes culture is as basic a human need as food or shelter, and what that means for displaced and refugee communitiesWhat it's like to look at thousands of the world's most difficult images every year, and how she finds her own balanceWhy the World Press Photo archive, turning 70 next year, might be her biggest personal project yetThis episode is a look inside one of the most influential organizations in photojournalism, and the woman rethinking whose stories get told, and how. You can find more of World Press Photo's work, exhibitions and archive at worldpressphoto.org.This episode of De Donkere Kamer podcast is proudly supported by Cameranu, specialist in cameras, lenses and photography gear.FREE WEBINAR: The 5 things top photographers constantly do to grow. Discover the real, proven patterns top photographers use to stay inspired, finish their projects, and keep their creative identity intact, without losing themselves in a crowded market. Reserve your free spot now Want personal, one-on-one feedback on your own photography? Book a review session with Kaat, a tailor-made 90-minute conversation about your practice and your questions. More info here