2026 Awards of Excellence

Recognizing individual journalists for quality work that makes an impact.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN JANUARY 12 – FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Please scroll down to enter and complete the entire application. All journalists who either work for Georgia news outlets or who are based in Georgia are eligible to enter for an Award of Excellence, and anyone is eligible to nominate a journalist for an Award of Excellence. All entries must be work completed in 2025.

Multiple entries are encouraged but you may only submit a piece of work once. If you have a question about the appropriate category for a submission, please email info@atlpressclub.org.

Atlanta Press Club board members are not eligible to win.

View the 2025 Awards of Excellence winners here.

2026 Awards of Excellence Categories

  1. Digital Enterprise – News or feature story using creative visualizations and text appearing in a digital news publication.
  2. Print News – News or feature article appearing in regularly produced daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or one-off print publications such as newspapers or magazines.
  3. TV Reporting – News or feature story or series appearing in a local or national newscast or program. Story should run no longer than 15 minutes.
  4. Breaking News – Best coverage of a breaking news story in any format. Story should run no longer than 15 minutes.
  5. Video Shorts – A companion visual piece to a reported news story. Can be up to 5 minutes in length.
  6. Use of Video – Use of video to support a broadcast news or feature story. Story should run no longer than 15 minutes.
  7. Radio Reporting – News or feature story appearing in a radio broadcast. Story should run no longer than 15 minutes.
  8. Documentary/Series – A long-form look at a single issue in visual or audio format. Entry should run 15 minutes or longer. Please note podcasts have their own category.
  9. Best Narrative Podcast/Series – Exploration of a topic using journalism standards in an on-demand audio format.
  10. Regularly Released Podcast – Exploration of a topic or topics using journalism standards in a recurring on-demand audio format. Please submit no more than two episodes.
  11. Single Image Photo – A single news or feature photograph that supports or tells a story.
  12. Investigative Reporting* – An investigative print, broadcast, radio or digital story or series that had demonstrable impact. Submissions in this category are eligable to win a cash prize supported by the A-Mark Foundation. Please read below regarding additional details and cash prizes associated with this category. Good luck!
  13. Narrative Writing / Reporting– A news or feature story using long form narrative writing to report on a topic. Can be any medium.
  14. Arts Journalism – A news or feature story focusing on art, artists, theater arts, visual arts, or the impact of art. Can be any medium.
  15. Entertainment Journalism – A news or feature story focusing on music, television, film, or the entertainment industry. Can be any medium.
  16. Food, Travel or Culture Journalism – A news or feature story focusing on food, dining, the restaurant industry, culture, travel, or community. Can be any medium.
  17. Tech and Business Reporting – A news or feature story focusing on technology, AI, or business. Can be any medium.
  18. Sports Journalism – A news, feature story or profile focusing on sports. Can be any medium.
  19. Collegiate News – A news or feature story written by a student for a college or university news outlet; any medium. Submissions must come from full time students enrolled at an accredited Georgia college or university.
  20. The Rising Star Award – Outstanding talent in a body of work from any medium, from journalist under 30 years of age. May submit up to five pieces to show complete body of work.
  21. Reporting on Civil and Human Rights – Original reporting on a civil or human rights issue from any medium including print, broadcast, radio or digital. Entries do not need to be Atlanta-based.
  22. The News Innovation Award – Presented to an organization or individual that used an innovative approach to report or disseminate news. Entries may include the use of technology, AI or social media in a unique way, or the reporting of a story in a way that is unique to your or your organization.
  23. The Atlanta Press Club Impact Award – The winner of the APC Impact Award is a Georgian (not necessarily a journalist) who had a significant impact on the journalism profession in the previous calendar year and has furthered the mission of the APC, which is focused on fostering journalistic excellence and advancing the public’s understanding of a free press.

*Information about the A-Mark prize for Investigative Journalism. The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism is open to journalists who submit entries in the APC Awards of Excellence Investigative Reporting category. Journalists who work for Georgia news outlets or who are based in Georgia are eligible to submit. All entries must correspond to work completed in 2025. Cash prizes will be given to the top three entries for 2026.

  • First place: $5,000 for the reporter(s) and $2,500 for the outlet that published or aired the winning story
  • Second place: $3,000 for the reporter(s) and $1,500 for the outlet
  • Third place: $2,000 for the reporter(s) and $1,000 for the outlet

Ready to submit?

When you click the button below, you will be directed to a payment portal where you will choose member or nonmember status. When your transaction is complete, you will be directed to the entry form where you may submit your materials. Need to renew your membership? Click here.

Please note: Each entry requires a separate transaction and separate entry form. (If you are entering five or more entries on behalf of a publication, please contact julia@atlpressclub.org for assistance.)

Members of the Atlanta Press Club may submit entries for $25 per entry.

Non-members may submit entries for $45 per entry.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT!