2026 Page One Awards contest accepting entries

This year’s contest features more than a dozen new categories

The 2026 Minnesota Society for Professional Journalists Page One Awards contest opens on Monday, January 12, 2026.

The Page One Awards highlight the best work in journalism from around the state of Minnesota, honoring the recipients of the awards at a banquet that will be held in June. 

This year’s contest features more than a dozen brand new categories, including expanded beat reporting and long-form video and audio categories. MNSPJ will also be honoring for the first time a Student Journalist of the Year.

The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Minnesota is also back after a very successful inaugural contest in 2025.  This award seeks to recognize outstanding investigative journalism in our state with $15,000 in prize money for journalists and their newsrooms. The cash prize is sponsored by the A-Mark Foundation, which supports and promotes investigative reporting. To enter work for the A-Mark Prize, click here.

Below are the rules and category descriptions for the contest. Entries and payment must be submitted by 10 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026. Click here to submit your entries.

Page One Awards Contest Guidelines 

• NEW THIS YEAR!
  • Additional beat reporting categories in Print/Online, plus expanded categories in both TV/Video & Radio
  • We’re excited to announce we’ve added a Student Journalist of the Year to our special awards contest!

• Page One Awards contest opens on Monday, January 12, 2026.
• The fee is $30 per entry.
• Entries and payment must be submitted online no later than 10 p.m. Friday, February 20, 2026.
• Work published or broadcast during the 2025 calendar year is eligible.
• Minnesota-based journalists (including freelancers and contract employees) working for news outlets in Minnesota or news outlets in neighboring states that cover Minnesota are eligible to enter. 
• In the print/online entry tiers, smaller news organizations may choose to enter work in the larger circulation/reach tier. However, that same entry may not be entered in the smaller circulation/reach tier as well. 
• An individual or news organization may not enter the same story in multiple categories. The exception is if the story is part of an entry in one of the special award categories. 
• Entries will be judged by journalism professionals outside Minnesota, with the exception of the special awards, which will be reviewed by a panel of former journalists/media professors from Minnesota.
• Judges and/or contest organizers may move an entry from one category to another or consolidate categories if needed.
• Up to three winners may be chosen for each category. Judges may choose not to name a winner in any category. 
• Entrants are responsible for providing contest organizers with instructions so that judges can call up submissions that are housed behind website paywalls. If they fail to provide this information, entries may be disqualified from consideration. 

Entry Tiers

• Print/Online – 50,000+ circulation or organizations with statewide reach or focus.
• Print/Online – Less than 50,000 circulation or organizations with local or community focus.
• TV/Video
  • Note: We welcome entries in this category from any outlet, not just TV news stations!
• Radio
  • Note: While podcasts are in the radio entry tier, the podcast category is open to all news organizations. 
• Photography/Graphics
• Special Awards

1. PRINT/ONLINE 

1a. Breaking News Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of a single, unanticipated breaking news event. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1b. Feature Reporting – For excellence in reporting that shows the writer’s ability to command attention through rich scenes and/or unexpected angles. Limit one story per entry. 

1c. Profile Reporting – For excellence in reporting of a single story that profiles an individual or group. Limit one story per entry. 

1d. Enterprise/In-Depth Reporting – For excellence in reporting that reflects a journalist’s or team of journalists’ ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper. Reporting should capture more complexity than a typical day-of news story. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1e. Business News Reporting – For excellence in coverage of business, finance or consumer-related topics. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1f. Business Feature Reporting – For excellence in reporting that profiles or features a business or businesses. Limit one story per entry. 

1g. State Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence state laws, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1h. Local Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence local political bodies, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1i. NEW CATEGORY! Health/Medical News Reporting – For excellence in reporting on health or medical news. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1j. NEW CATEGORY! Education News Reporting – For excellence in reporting on schools, teaching or other education-related topics. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1k. NEW CATEGORY! Environment News Reporting – For excellence in reporting on news related to science, climate or other environmental impact issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1l. NEW CATEGORY! Solutions Reporting – For excellence in coverage or examination of solutions-focused efforts by communities or individuals to address community problems and needs. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1m. Best Interview – For excellence in reporting on a single interview on a given topic. Examples can include but are not limited to profiles and Q&As. Limit one story per entry. 

1n. Columns – For excellence in craft of column writing. Entry may include three to five columns by one writer for any section except op-ed. 

1o. Editorials – For excellence in the craft of editorial writing. Entry may include three to five editorials and/or commentary pieces or columns published in the op-ed section. 

1p. Headlines – For excellence in the craft of headline writing by an individual or staff. Entry may contain a collection of up to three headlines, accompanied by the stories. 

1q. Arts & Entertainment Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of arts and entertainment. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1r. A&E/Culture/Criticism/Reviews – For excellence in the craft of arts and entertainment criticism writing. Writing may feature reviews of performances, musical acts, restaurants or other related A&E topics. Entry may include three to five stories by one writer. 

1s. Sports News Reporting – For excellence in reporting of sports news. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories.

1t. Sports Feature Reporting – For excellence in sports reporting that shows the writer’s ability to command attention through rich scenes and/or unexpected angles. Limit one story per entry. 

1u. Best Website – For excellence in the presentation of an organization’s work to its online audience. Special attention given to areas such as ease of navigation, creative design concepts and degree to which online elements enhance reporting.  

1v. Best Social Media Account – For excellence in social media content that explains or highlights journalistic work. Entries will be evaluated based on the use of innovative, engaging and creative content that strategically grows or engages audiences. Submissions may include up to five links from a news organization or individual journalist’s account. 

1w. Best Newsletter – For excellence in newsletter writing that shows useful curation and distinctive voice. Entry may include three to five examples of a newsletter. 

1x. NEW CATEGORY! Audience Engagement – For excellence in community-centered stories, projects or campaigns that improve audience engagement. This may include callouts for sourcing, reporting originated from reader questions or promotion of a story or series after publication. Entries can include various formats or platforms such as social media posts, newsletters, community events or digital projects. Up to five links may be submitted to illustrate the execution of a specific engagement strategy and its overall impact on the intended community.

2. TV/VIDEO

2a. Breaking News Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of a single, unanticipated breaking news event that is broadcast within 24 hours. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes. 

2b. NEW CATEGORY! General News Reporting – For excellence in coverage of a general assignment story, reported in a single shift. Limit one story per entry.

2c. Feature Reporting – For excellence in reporting that shows the writer’s ability to command attention through rich scenes and/or unexpected angles. Limit one story per entry. 

2d. Enterprise/In-Depth Reporting – For excellence in reporting that reflects a journalist’s or team of journalists’ ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper. Reporting should capture more complexity than a typical day-of news story. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 30 minutes.  

2e. NEW CATEGORY! News Special – For excellence in the production of a special program, covering a newsworthy event or relevant topic that brings depth and perspective to viewers. Time limit: 60 minutes.

2f. NEW CATEGORY! Documentary – For excellence in the production and publishing of long-form video, the purpose of which is to inform or educate viewers on current or historical events, topical issues, societal concerns, interesting people or other relevant content areas. Time limit: 60 minutes.

2g. Sports News Reporting – For excellence in reporting of sports related news topics. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes. 

2h. State Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence state laws, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes. 

2i. Local Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence local political bodies, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes.

2j. Best Interview – For excellence in reporting on a single interview on a given topic. Examples can include but are not limited to profiles and Q&As. Limit one story per entry. 

2k. NEW CATEGORY! Social Video Storytelling – For excellence in news videos created for social media platforms. Entries can include a single video or series of up to five links published on a professional news outlet or a journalist’s personal account. Time limit: 10 minutes. 

3. RADIO

3a. Breaking News Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of a single, unanticipated breaking news event that is broadcast within 24 hours. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes. 

3b. NEW CATEGORY! General News Reporting – For excellence in coverage of a general assignment story, reported in a single shift. Limit one story per entry.

3c. Feature Reporting – For excellence in reporting that shows the writer’s ability to command attention through rich scenes and/or unexpected angles. Limit one story per entry. 

3d. Enterprise/In-Depth Reporting – For excellence in reporting that reflects a journalist’s or team of journalists’ ingenuity, use of sources and/or special research to dig deeper. Reporting should capture more complexity than a typical day-of news story. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit:  30 minutes. 

3e. NEW CATEGORY! News Special – For excellence in the production of a special program, covering a newsworthy event or relevant topic that brings depth and perspective to viewers. Time limit: 60 minutes.

3f. NEW CATEGORY! News/Public Affairs – For excellence in a regularly scheduled or weekly news/public affairs radio program. Can be a composite of segments or a single program. Time limit: 60 minutes.

3g. Podcast – For excellence in a series or episodic podcast that is published online or on a podcast platform. Time limit: 60 minutes.

3h. State Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence state laws, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes. 

3i. Local Politics/Government Reporting – For excellence in news coverage of the people and organizations that influence local political bodies, policies and elections. Reporting may feature but is not limited to profiles, investigations and continuing coverage of topical issues. Entry can either be a single story, or a composite of three to five related stories. Time limit: 15 minutes.

3j. Best Interview -For excellence in reporting on a single interview on a given topic. Examples can include but are not limited to profiles and Q&As. Limit one story per entry. 

4. PHOTOGRAPHY/GRAPHICS

NOTE: Entries should demonstrate the work of an individual photographer. Staff portfolios are not allowed.

4a. News Photography – Submit up to five photographs of your best/most compelling work that accurately and effectively captures news events.

4b. Feature Photography – Submit up to five photographs that demonstrate your best/most compelling feature work to illustrate feature stories on a planned or non-breaking news basis. 

4c. Portrait Photography – Submit up to five photographs that demonstrate your best/most compelling portrait work, by capturing individuals’ personality and sense of identity. 

4d. Sports Photography – Submit up to five photographs of your best/most compelling sports photography from professional or amateur athletics.

4e. Infographic/Data Visualization – Submit an entry that combines visual elements – original artwork/illustration, photography, charts, graphs, diagrams and/or maps – to clearly illustrate a topic or issue. The entry can be part of a story package or stand-alone feature. 

4f. Illustration – Submit up to five related images that demonstrate excellence in the use of original artwork to tell a story. Entry should include a link to the story for the judges to reference.

4g. Page Design – Submit an entry that effectively uses layout, typography and visual elements to tell a complete story. Single or multi-page layout for a single story may be entered. 

4h. Magazine Cover – Submit an entry that presents a single magazine cover. 

5. SPECIAL AWARDS

5a. Journalist of the Year – This award honors an outstanding journalist in any medium with 10 or more years of experience. Entry should include a letter of nomination and up to five stories published in 2025. 

5b. Young Journalist of the Year – This award honors an outstanding journalist in any medium with less than 10 years of experience. Entry should include a letter of nomination and up to five stories published in 2025. 

5c. NEW CATEGORY! Student Journalist of the Year – This award honors an outstanding college journalist of any medium who demonstrates exceptional skill and initiative in reporting. The student must have been enrolled at a college/university in Minnesota when the work was completed. Entry must include a letter of nomination, along with up to five published in 2025. Stories should be published or distributed outside of the classroom, for example in a student newspaper or other publication. Stories that were published while the student was working as an intern are acceptable. 

5d. Best Beat Reporting – This award recognizes an enterprising reporter in any medium who follows a single subject or topic throughout the year. Entry should include up to five examples of beat reporting, along with a letter of nomination. 

5e. Best Use of Public Records – This award honors excellence in the coverage of a story or news event where the use of public records played a vital role in getting and telling the story. Entries welcome from any medium, either from an individual journalist or staff. Entry should include a letter explaining how the journalist/team obtained and used the records in its reporting, along with up to five stories on the topic. 

CLICK HERE to access the contest submission form.