Near the end of every year, I look back through the many thousands of news photos taken in the previous months, reevaluating them to see which images stand out as iconic—which images take your breath away, bring you close, or make an emotional impact. In a year dominated by stories of warfare, divisive politics, and natural disasters, it feels even more important to showcase the incredible work of the photojournalists who bring the reality of these situations to millions of others. Here, I present my choices for the top 25 news photos of 2024. Be sure to check back throughout the week for more comprehensive stories, presented as “2024: The Year in Photos, Parts 1, 2, & 3.”
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