UPDATE:    The 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes will open for entries on Jan. 6, 2025. The final deadline for entries will be 6 p.m. Feb. 14, 2025. This webite will be updated with details for the 2025 cycle by Jan. 6.

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All entries must be submitted by 6 p.m. EST Friday, February 14, 2025.

The 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes will honor the extraordinary journalism produced in 2024, with categories that take into account the important stories that unfolded across the past 12 months. We urge news organizations of all sizes and platforms to enter, and judges will take into consideration the special circumstances that many or most outlets, including smaller ones, had to face to produce excellent journalism.

All news websites, news services (including radio, TV stations and magazines) and newspapers in the United States are eligible to enter. Each nominating organization must create its own account to enter.

The categories for this year's awards are:

• Batten Medal
• Frank A. Blethen Award for Local Accountability Reporting
• Roy Peter Clark Prize for Excellence in Short Writing
• First Amendment Award
• Deborah Howell Award for Writing Excellence
• Dori J. Maynard Justice Award
• Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity Leadership 
• Burl Osborne Editorial and Opinion Award
• Mike Royko Award for Commentary and Column Writing
• Punch Sulzberger Prize for Innovation in Journalism

Thanks to our generous sponsors, all of our awards will come with a cash prize. Please see the categories page for details.
 
To begin an entry submission, please click here to register your organization's information. Please check to see if your organization has an account from last year before registering, as each organization should only have one account for entering submissions. You will need your nominating editor’s login and password to access an existing account. (Note: If you previously have created an account with the Poynter Institute for training or on poynter.org, this is not the same, and you must create a new account on this contest platform.) 

Note your email address (username) and password so that when you return, you can log in and complete the submission process.

Steps to Follow:

Step 1: Make sure to review the categories and rules by clicking on their tabs in the menu bar.

Step 2: Start entering by clicking here to create one account for your organization. If you already have an account, then you can log in (need nominating editor login and password) and complete your submission.

Step 3: On the submit page, you will be asked to complete three forms per entry. You need to complete all three forms per entry in order to complete your submission.

Step 4: When you finish uploading your entry, click "Add to Cart," and you'll be directed to the "Review and Checkout" page. Review your entry and make changes if necessary. Click "Checkout" to pay and complete your submission. If you have more entries to submit, then click "Make Another Entry," and repeat the process. If you need to submit the same entry to a different category, then you'll have an option to copy the entry at the end of each "Entry submission" form. Once you complete adding all of your entries, you can then pay for everything at once. 

Step 5: Once you pay for your entry, you can review in the read-only mode by clicking "My Entries" under the "My Account" tab, but you won't have access to make changes.

Awards Rules:

Please follow the rules below to ensure that your entry is accepted. Entries that do not conform to these rules may be disqualified. In addition, be sure to follow the specific requirements for each category found in the category descriptions.

Eligibility: All entries must have been published originally, whether in print or online, in 2024 (unless otherwise specified). All entries must be submitted in English. The work of a journalist or team can be entered in more than one category but will be selected as a winner in only one. The work of both employees and freelance contributors is eligible.

Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 6 pm EST Friday, February 14, 2025.

Team Entries: All awards categories accept team entries except the Mike Royko Award for Commentary and Column Writing. 

Multiple Entries: A news organization can submit up to three entries in each category. Individual journalists may self-enter in the same category however, even if their organization submits three entries to that category.

Reprint Rights: Reprint rights are granted to the Poynter Institute by virtue of entry in this contest.

Entry Format: If your entry is available online, please submit your piece via the URL(s). If your entry requires special instructions to the judges about what to consider (order, certain pieces), you may submit that information in an optional PDF. You may also submit your entire entry by PDF, rather than by URLs. We ask that you do so in a clear, easily legible format, with all components clearly labeled. Your nominating letter (optional) should be uploaded as a PDF.

If uploading via PDF, you should submit one PDF file that contains the entire entry and then another PDF file that contains the optional nominating letter. You may submit multiple PDFs if the entry is large.

Each item in an entry must include its published date and be formatted for easy readability. A sidebar can be submitted as a separate article to be counted toward the maximum articles allowed per category. If articles are part of a series, then only submit the articles that will be judged up to the maximum allowed per category. The articles can be prefaced with the original play of the articles.

If you are entering via URL and there is a paywall, then use the "paywall instructions" box in the entry submission form to upload instructions for access. The URL needs to be made available as a link on the Poynter website if it is a winning entry.

You may include clearly labeled supplemental material but it will not be judged as part of your entry. 

All video entries should be entered by URL. Please refer to the categories page for more specific rules. 

No minimum number of articles/digital components is required in each category, but there is a maximum number allowed that is dependent on the category. Please see the specific rules under each category for further instructions.

Enter online: Nomination letters (optional) and submission of entries must be completed online. Click here to set up an account for your organization and start entering. Please check with your nominating editor to see if your organization has an account before registering, as each organization should only have one account for entering submissions. (Note: If you have an account on Poynter.org, this account is not the same and must be created on this contest platform) All entries must be submitted by 6 pm EST Friday, February 14, 2025. No late entries will be accepted.

Entrant Type/Fees: Early Bird Discount: Each entry submitted by 11:59 p.m. January 31, 2025 will be charged a nonrefundable fee of $75. Regular Entry Fee: All entries submitted February 1 and later will be charged a nonrefundable entry fee of $85.

Support: All questions should be emailed to poynterprizes@poynter.org.