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This year’s International Women’s Day theme, "Give to Gain", celebrates the power of generosity — reminding us that when we lift others, we all move forward.

The campaign calls on individuals and organisations to recognise that sharing knowledge, support, and opportunities is not a loss, but a catalyst for collective progress. In journalism, where collaboration and mentorship are vital, this message resonates more than ever.

In this spirit, we wanted to spotlight women who have given so much to us, our community and the industry as a whole. We recognise the doors they've opened, the conversations they've started and the inspiration they've provided.

Let's be realistic. There are too many amazing women working in journalism to name in one article. We've chosen 20, but there could be umpteen more. These are just a few of our top picks of trailblazing women journalists – in no particular order – but feel free to let us know who is worthy of a spotlight in the comment section below.

Rozina Breen, director of editorial [global], The Pulitzer Centre

Rozina Breen is the person I learned the term 'life as you climb' from. A career as a c-suite media leader – more than a decade with the BBC – before roles at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and now with The Pulitzer Centre, has been shaped by providing the type of opportunities for others she had to fight hard tooth and nail for herself.

Marie Colvin, war correspondent

Marie Colvin was an American war correspondent who was killed in Syria in 2012 with French photographer Rémi Ochlik, in what was later found to be a targeted attack on the press by the Syrian government.

Her legacy lives on through the Marie Colvin Journalists Network, which organises various initiatives designed to support women journalists working in the Arab world.

Hannah Storm, media consultant and freelance journalist

A media consultant specialising in journalism safety, press freedom and resilience. Hannah has helped to advance the mental health conversation in journalism by being vulnerable about her own mental health journey.

I'll never forget how she stood on stage at the Society of Editors event – a room of some of the most influential people in UK news – and laid bare her own PTSD diagnosis, linked to her experiences reporting on humanitarian crises and being a survivor of sexual assault.

Leona O'Neill, founder and director, Mediastrong

The same applies to Leona O'Neill, a university lecturer at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. She has been open about her........

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