Poynter Journalism Prizes

The Poynter Journalism Prize honors the best and most important journalism in the United States.

2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes now open for entries until Feb. 14

The contest, which honors distinguished reporting and writing, accepts entries from US-based news outlets

January 6, 2025

How the shortest story can pack the biggest punch

A 20-year-old article about a toll collector inspired a short story about the fentanyl crisis that won an inaugural Poynter Journalism Prize

December 16, 2024

Roy Peter Clark

Poynter names Selection Board for Poynter Journalism Prizes

14 distinguished journalists to choose winners of the journalism contest

December 11, 2024

A San Antonio Express-News editorial series complicated the border policy narrative. That was the goal.

The ambitious, nuanced editorial series stands apart with policy deep-dives, diverse sourcing and deep understanding of the region

December 10, 2024

Josie Hollingsworth

‘Meet people, spot talent, give them the chance’

How nonprofit startup the Mississippi Free Press built an inclusive newsroom to connect with a statewide audience

December 2, 2024

How the San Francisco Chronicle shone a bright light on the Honduran drug trade

The Chronicle tracked the drug trade into tiny towns where top dealers live in mansions — work that earned an inaugural Poynter Journalism Prize

November 20, 2024

A columnist learned of holes in Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law. So she showed the human consequences.

The state’s right-to-shelter law is supposed to help homeless families. The Boston Globe’s Yvonne Abraham laid bare its many challenges.

November 12, 2024

Amaris Castillo

A tipster warned of a ‘dysfunctional’ hire at a local police department. That was an understatement.

KHOU 11 found that a 250-person Texas city had 50 police officers. More than half had checkered pasts.

October 14, 2024

An Oregon paper was repeatedly denied public records. Its fight for transparency ended in a major victory.

The Malheur Enterprise’s dogged reporting and lawsuit forced the county to admit wrongdoing — and earned the paper a Poynter Prize

September 26, 2024

Nicole Slaughter Graham

A New Jersey journalist couldn’t understand the obsession with Wawa. So he reported its oral history.

The interactive story explored why people form attachments to brands and earned the reporter a Poynter Prize for innovation.

September 24, 2024

Amaris Castillo

Poynter Journalism Prizes honor excellence in U.S. journalism

Winners and finalists are the first for the contest under the stewardship of the Poynter Institute

April 23, 2024

Here are the winners of the inaugural Poynter Journalism Prizes

The awards continue a 45-year tradition that was most recently headed by the News Leaders Association.

April 23, 2024

2024 Poynter Journalism Prizes to be announced at 2 p.m. Eastern

Tune in here to learn the winners and finalists for 10 categories in the 2024 contest

April 23, 2024

Opinion | The story behind the Poynter Journalism Prizes

Poynter president Neil Brown makes the case for contests, great storytelling and writing short

February 5, 2024

2024 Poynter Journalism Prizes now open for entries

The contest, formerly under the News Leaders Association, honors best in U.S. journalism

January 8, 2024

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