2026 Poynter Journalism Prizes now open for entries until Feb. 13
The 2026 Poynter Journalism Prizes opened for entries on Monday, Jan. 5, with two new categories added this year. The respected contest, which is in its third year being run by the Poynter Institute, honors distinguished reporting and writing from U.S.-based news organizations across all platforms, including digital, television, audio and print.
Organizations can visit the contest site to read the full rules and FAQs, and to submit entries. The deadline for entries is 6 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Feb. 13. The entry fee is the early-bird rate of $75 until Jan. 31, then increases to $85.
This year, the contest is adding two new categories for specialty reporting and welcoming a new sponsor and a new name for the First Amendment category.
Related Knowledge Center: Inside the newsroom
As newsrooms struggle with rickety business models and precarious finances — as well as new technologies — they are deploying an array of editorial responses.
The Times and its critics | Washington Post mortem