AAJA launched the ABC News/Alexa Valiente Summer Internship in 2021. This internship is named in memory of Alexa Valiente who was a proud member of AAJA and passed away in 2019 at the age of 27. Alexa started her ABC News career as an intern for the digital team and rose to being a producer. Alexa was well known for her passion for journalism, curiosity and great storytelling.

Each intern who will come through AAJA to this internship will embody these same characteristics and have just as much of a lasting impact on the important work we do each day as Alexa. Ideal candidates can manage multiple projects simultaneously, have a passion for news stories, thrive in a fast-paced environment, have strong communication skills and are self-motivated and have positive attitude.

Deadline: February 14, 2025 11:59PM ET

About the Internship

As an intern at ABC News, you will perform a variety of editorial and production duties that are invaluable to one of the network’s many shows and digital platforms including Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, 20/20, Nightline, abcnews.com, ABC News Live and The View. 

You will play an integral role behind the scenes to manage the enormous flow of information that comes in every day. Daily duties include:

• Assisting staff with all aspects of production
• Booking, story development & research
• Prepping and assisting with shoots and supporting video editing 
• Covering breaking news, logging & transcribing
• Coordinating administrative duties within the office

 This internship will be

• Paid for 12 weeks, 40 hours per week at a rate that will be discussed at the time of the offer
• Held from June through August
• Internship will be held in our New York City or Washington DC Office
• Include a stipend to go toward housing, based on your location
• Feature speaker events with ABC News leaders and networking opportunities with recruiters for full-time positions

Eligibility and Rules

• A junior or senior currently enrolled in an accredited college or university and taking at least one class or a recent graduate (Spring 2024) from an accredited college or university.
• Active AAJA student member
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Previous internship experience, either print or broadcast
• Some experience related to social media
• Must be eligible to work in the US

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Recent transcript
• Letter of recommendation
• A 150-200 word statement of why you want to pursue a career in broadcast journalism and what you hope to gain from an internship at ABC News
• Work samples

To learn more about this scholarship and AAJA, visit our website. 

Questions? Email support@aaja.org.

This award recognizes excellence in a news story (or series of stories) of national, regional or local significance. Stories will be judged for compelling subject matter, strength of reporting and sourcing, and fresh angles of topics with heavy media coverage. Submissions are welcome from journalists, newsrooms, wire services, magazines, journals and other professional outlets.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes excellence in feature reporting. An outstanding feature reveals a subject of human or cultural interest through in-depth storytelling. As important as the reporting is the quality of the writing. Submissions are welcome from journalists, newsrooms, wire services, magazines, journals and other professional outlets.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit ourwebsite.

This award recognizes excellence in reporting a news or feature story by a student journalist for a student or professional outlet. Stories will be judged on strength of subject matter, reporting and storytelling skills. Stories must have been published when the writer was a high school, undergraduate or graduate student.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in video storytelling of a single video piece, segment or series of videos not exceeding 10 minutes in total run time. Eligible pieces must have been aired (or published) on professional news or video-based outlets, including but not limited to commercial or public broadcast TV stations, cable channels, digital platforms, or streaming services. News and feature submissions are eligible. Talent compilation reels will not be considered for this award.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in long-form video and newscast storytelling exceeding 10 minutes in total run time. Submissions are open to standalone packages, documentaries, newscasts and specials. Eligible pieces must have been aired (or published) on professional news or video-based outlets, including but not limited to commercial or public broadcast TV stations, cable channels, digital platforms and streaming services. Documentaries that have not aired or been published but have been selected for screening at a competitive film festival are eligible. This category is open to both news and feature submissions. Talent compilation reels will not be considered for this award.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in video storytelling of a single video piece, segment or series of videos created for social media, not exceeding 10 minutes in total run time. Eligible pieces must have been aired (or published) on professional news or video-based outlets’ social media accounts. News and feature submissions are eligible. Talent compilation reels will not be considered for this award.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in video storytelling of a single video piece or series produced by students not exceeding 30 minutes in total run time. Social videos submitted – either as a single video or as a series – must not exceed 10 minutes total. Video(s) must have been published when the creator was a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student. Video pieces produced for social media, student publications and professional outlets are eligible.  This category is open to news and feature submissions.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in audio storytelling of a single piece or segment not exceeding 60 minutes, including radio, podcasts and other audio works. The judges will consider the journalism and storytelling behind the submissions, including production quality and storytelling techniques.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in long-form journalism told through audio, including radio, podcasts, shows and other audio works. Submissions are open to single pieces exceeding 60 minutes or a series. Whether a single piece of long-form journalism, a series or portion of a series, submissions must not exceed 3 hours. For a series exceeding 3 hours, please submit a selection of episodes no longer than 3 hours that best represents your work. The judges will consider the reporting, production and storytelling.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors student excellence in journalism told through audio, including radio, podcasts and other audio works. The judges will consider the reporting, production and storytelling. Submissions are open to single pieces, segments or a series. Whether a single piece, segment, a series or portion of a series, submissions must not exceed 3 hours. For a series exceeding 3 hours, please submit a selection of episodes no longer than 3 hours that best represents your work. Audio stories must have been published when the creator was a high school, undergraduate or graduate student.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in planning and executing an audience engagement campaign. This could include outreach before writing a story — for instance, searching for sources of anecdotes — or promotion of a story or series after publication. Engagement can include formats ranging from social media posts to texting campaigns to virtual events. 

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit ourwebsite.

This award honors outstanding journalism that centers around data. This could include a story driven by data analysis, or one that prominently features data or data visualizations.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in immersive or interactive storytelling through the creative use of web design and backend coding.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors excellence in audience engagement, data journalism and immersive storytelling by students. Work must have been produced when the creator was a high school, undergraduate or graduate student.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit ourwebsite.

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in investigative journalism, with a focus on storytelling and impact. This award is open to all mediums, including single pieces of journalism or multi-part series.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors best-in-class sports journalism, including but not limited to breaking news, game coverage or analysis, athlete profiles and features and investigations.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in scientific, environmental or health-related journalism.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in arts, culture and entertainment journalism, including but not limited to features, investigations, profiles and reviews.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes outstanding achievement in business, economic, consumer and technology coverage.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes outstanding journalism about elections, the elections process, campaigns, candidates and beyond at the local, state or national level. Pieces will be gauged based on their level of depth and impact. Work that shows significance to the AAPI community is highly encouraged but not required. Submissions are open to outlets of any size.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024).

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards.

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories).

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity.

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member.

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories.

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories.

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes the finest international reporting by our members. Eligible entries must be published in English. We accept submissions in all media formats. They can be a single story or a series of stories in a reporting project in any media format.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024). 

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards. 

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories). 

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity. 

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member. 

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories. 

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories. 

To learn more, visit our website.

This award honors journalism that illuminates the complexity and humanity of Indigenous Pacific Islander communities and experiences. Submissions to this category must center around Pacific Islander stories. This award specifically recognizes journalism about Pacific Islanders, though PI-centered journalism will be considered in any category to which it is submitted and for which it is eligible. In the spirit of PI inclusion, Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) members may also submit PI journalism for consideration.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024). 

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards. 

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories). 

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity. 

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member. 

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories. 

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories. 

To learn more, visit our website.

This award recognizes outstanding opinions, editorials, essays and writings with distinct points of view.

Deadline for submission February 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

General Eligibility Requirements

Entries that are eligible for the 2025 AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards were published or aired between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the previous year (2024). 

Photo(s) must have been either created or initially published between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

For a series or project that spans multiple years, you may submit the project one time for one of the eligible years. For instance, a project that was published in 2023-2024 is eligible for the 2025 awards as long as it wasn’t entered in AAJA’s 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards. Works previously entered into the AAJA Awards will not be considered.

Work must be published in English (or in the case of video, with English subtitles).

It must fall in the listed categories for the Journalism Excellence Awards. 

It must not be student work (except for Student Journalism categories). 

Entrants are limited to AAJA members only, however, journalists may join the organization prior to submitting their awards application. AAJA is open to all journalists, regardless of ethnic or racial identity. 

An entry is a journalism project executed by a single journalist or a team of journalists. For team submissions, at least one member of the team who played a significant role in the submitted work must be an AAJA member. The person who submits the award application must be an AAJA member. 

Each entered work may only be submitted to one award category. Please use your discretion.

Journalists may submit multiple pieces, but not the same piece to multiple categories. 

If the work is part of a series, you may submit up to three pieces from that series together as one entry; this is applicable to the Written Journalism, Online/Digital Journalism and the topical categories. 

To learn more, visit our website.

VOICES is a student fellowship program that provides aspiring journalists with career-ready skills to succeed in the continually-evolving media landscape. The program’s mission is to help a diverse group of aspiring journalists understand how audiences engage with them, how communities view the work they produce and how they can understand the impact of their work. By nurturing relationships between students and professional volunteers, VOICES also gives students the opportunity to tap into mentors’ networks and begin their own. 

This program is open to college students interested in journalism. We are looking for students who are interested in producing a long-form, in-depth news project over the course of the summer. Reporters, social media strategists, designers, developers, data engineers, podcasters, broadcasters and bloggers are all welcome to apply.

The program this year will consist of summer-long training and project work that culminates at the AAJA National Convention in Seattle, Washington from July 30 to August 3, 2025.

     As a VOICES fellow, students will:

• Attend virtual trainings throughout the summer led by industry leaders
• Build lasting relationships with their editors and other AAJA professionals
• Be a part of AAJA's National Convention as attendees and presenters
• Meet and interview with recruiters from major news companies 

Past fellows have gone onto internships and jobs at news companies such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Frontline and more. Former VOICES students and editors are now Pulitzer Prize winners, documentarians, public relations professionals, broadcast anchors and newsroom editors. Above all, VOICES is a community that lasts far beyond one summer – it's a community that students will be a part of for a lifetime. To view past work by fellows, visit the VOICES website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please check here for information on eligibility, the program and other general questions.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: March 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PT

The Executive Leadership Program (ELP) is for journalists and media professionals who are interested in advancing their careers and developing the skills necessary to achieve their professional and personal goals. ELP offers a challenging, practical, and life-changing experience.

This is not a typical program about how to become a better manager; it is a transformational journey designed to develop emerging journalism leaders capable of navigating unpredictable challenges and building a sustainable future for the industry.

The program explores the responsibilities and challenges within a media workplace, how to lead in a changing landscape, and how cultural values influence leadership. Experienced career coaches and senior news executives guide participants as they delve into a variety of topics in a small, supportive environment.

The trainings are highly-interactive and participants will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects and questions such as: 

• How do leadership styles across various cultures affect our work?
• How can we deconstruct corporate culture to find paths to success and overcome barriers?
• In what ways do my background and passion impact my work?
• How does digital media impact the industry and what is my role in it?
• How can I meaningfully contribute to the industry and my community?
• What lessons can be learned from established and emerging media markets? 

Participants will also explore perspectives on and gain concrete approaches to:

• Diversity and culture in the workplace
• Leadership skills, styles, and opportunities 
• Power, politics, and influence
• Professional and career goal setting
• Personal branding and confidence
• Negotiation tactics 

QUALIFICATIONS

Individuals with four to seven years of experience are encouraged to apply. Space is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Acceptance into the program may be contingent upon an interview.
 

LOGISTICS

The 2025 ELP sessions will be held both in person and virtually. Participants are required to attend all live and virtual sessions. They are also responsible for having all the technology needed to attend the virtual trainings, including a computer, webcam, and a strong internet connection.
 

2025 Sessions (all times are for the Eastern Time Zone)

In-person Opening Session: Wednesday through Saturday, April 23-26, in Washington, D.C.
Virtual Sessions: Monthly two-hour sessions from May through July. Times and dates TBD.  
In-person Closing Session: Wednesday, July 30, during AAJA's National Convention in Seattle, Washington.
 

TUITION AND PAYMENT

Tuition for ELP is $1,750 for AAJA members and $2,250 for non-members. It includes the costs of training materials, meals during in-person sessions, and basic registration for the 2025 AAJA National Convention.

Applicants accepted to ELP must pay for the program by April 15. For those who need it, there will be an option to pay the tuition in two payments. Applicants who cancel their registration after April 15 will not receive a refund.

Those in need of financial assistance may reach out to their employers or local AAJA chapter leadership (AAJA members only). All applicants to ELP 2025 will automatically be screened for eligibility to the following opportunities.

• The South Asian Journalists Association is sponsoring two fully funded spots for ELP, exclusively for SAJA members looking to advance their leadership skills.
• The Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship, which grants up to $1,000 to professionals seeking newsroom leadership training and management development.
• AAJA’s Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fund provides financial assistance to AAPI leaders, helping offset the cost of programs like ELP. 
• The AAJA Original Founders Executive Leadership Program Fellowship sponsored by Dickson Louie, which honors the six original AAJA founders —  Bill Sing, Tritia Toyota, Frank Kwan, Nancy Yoshihara, David Kishiyama,  and Dwight Chuman — for their innovation, grit, and entrepreneurial  skills that they displayed in making AAJA a reality and in challenging  the status quo. The fellowship helps support members who have been active in an AAJA leadership role at the national or local level to attend ELP.

All applications to ELP are automatically considered for fellowship opportunities. There is no separate application process required for applying to SAJA fellowship, the Simon and June Li fellowship or the Founders Fellowship.
 

HOW TO APPLY

You must be a professional working actively in the journalism and media industry to apply for the program.

Fill out the application below for the U.S. ELP Cohort.
 

Applications are due by Friday, February 28 at 11:59 PM PT. Please note that space is very limited.

Attach the following documents to the form:
       • A résumé or link to your LinkedIn profile
       • A professional, high-resolution color photo
       • A letter of recommendation from a supervisor (OPTIONAL)
       • A short 100-word biography

       Contact AAJA HQ at https://www.aaja.org/about/contact/ with any questions.

Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship Grant

This grant awards funds to current AAJA members in pursuit of professional development. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted into a professional development program. 

Eligibility and Rules

• Current dues-paying AAJA member
• Demonstrate leadership potential, or currently hold a management position
• Must have a serious interest in continuing pursuing journalism as a career.
• Candidates must commit to submitting a post for the AAJA website at the end of their training experience that highlights how the fellowship advanced them along their career path.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• One letter of recommendation
• A letter verifying your acceptance into a professional development program
• A brief statement describing your financial need
• In 500 words or less, describe your career goals and why AAJA's mission is important to you.

To learn more about this scholarship and AAJA, visit our website.

DEADLINES: 

The spring application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 2025.

Grants are distributed on a rolling basis. Complete the application at least 3 weeks before payment is due for the program or event you plan on attending. All required materials must be received by the deadline to be considered. 

Questions? Email support@aaja.org with Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship Grant in the subject line.