Johnny and Iz Harris

Johnny and Iz Harris are the 2026 ICFJ Founders Award winners.

Johnny Harris is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who blends cinematic storytelling with sharp visual explainers to break down complex global issues for an audience of over 7.5 million on YouTube. He has contributed to The New York Times and The Economist. Before going independent, he created and hosted Vox's twice Emmy-nominated series "Vox Borders." He is the co-founder of Newpress, a creator-led media company built on a simple idea: people want to understand the world through real humans they trust. His latest project, "The Human Element," is a cinematic docuseries that journeys to the heart of the world's most important issues, bringing the forces shaping our lives into focus through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling.

Iz Harris is the co-founder, CEO and executive producer of Newpress, a creator-led media company delivering rigorous, accessible, visual-first journalism. Iz drives both the business strategy and creative engine behind four rapidly growing channels, reaching more than 12 million across platforms. Newpress is actively expanding into new channels and formats, with a long-term goal of reshaping how people learn – by creating journalism that invites curiosity, brings clarity, and meets audiences where they are.