Still Photojournalism Division – 2024 Proposed Categories

NOTE: These are the proposed categories for the 2024 cycle. You can submit a comment on this form until November 6, 2023.

The Best of Photojournalism – Still Photojournalism division recognizes visual journalists who, working through the medium of still photography, tell stories that are relevant to their communities, helping them understand trends and issues so that they can make informed decisions. Judges will look at technical excellence as well as composition, but the key factor will be the journalism that is demonstrated.

Entries in this category are created and entered by individual photojournalists – there are no team categories. Entries will be submitted as individual images, stories or portfolios, depending upon the category. In the portfolio categories, two-thirds of the work must have been published. In the story categories, more than one half of the work must have been published. All entries in the single-image categories must have been published. You may be asked to supply proof of publication.

Photojournalists may work as either members of a publication staff or as independent photographers. The work must have been made with the intent of journalistic publication, either in print or online – work created as sponsored content or for a company, brand, team or other entity is not allowed. All images MUST have credits removed – no names or publications should appear in captions. 

Please see the Technical Guidelines section of the competition web site for more detailed information.

NOTE: Photographers can only enter one of the full-portfolio Photojournalist of the Year categories (International, National, Community or Emerging), but may also enter the Sports Photojournalist of the Year. Please also be aware that the method for determining which Photojournalist of the Year category you should enter has changed from being defined by newsroom size and circulation to what is being covered in the images and the intended audience. For each of the POY categories, the judges will be looking at both the depth of coverage as well as the breadth of coverage. 

Please refer to the Guidelines section of the competition website for more details, and contact b[email protected] for more information or questions about the contest.

Photojournalist of the Year, International: A portfolio of images created by an individual that must include work made in at least two countries. The entry should contain up to 40 images (blank or black slides to separate content will not count towards total). At least two picture stories are required containing up to 12 images each. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). Two-thirds of all pictures in all pictures stories must have been published. 

Photojournalist of the Year, National: A portfolio of images created by an individual that covers their country’s national news. The entry should contain up to 40 images (blank or black slides to separate content will not count towards total). No international pictures may be entered in this category. At least two picture stories are required containing up to 12 images each. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). Please note that only one of the three POY categories can be entered by any photojournalist. Two-thirds of all pictures in all picture stories and singles must have been published. 

Photojournalist of the Year, Community: A portfolio of images created by an individual of a community for that specific community.  The entry should contain up to 40 images (blank or black slides to separate content will not count towards total). At least two picture stories are required containing up to 12 images each. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). Please note that only one of the three POY categories can be entered by any photojournalist. Two-thirds of all pictures in all picture stories and singles must have been published. 

Sports Photojournalist of The Year: A portfolio consisting of sports related action and/or sports feature photography created by an individual photographer. The included images can be published or not but must have been photographed during the calendar year. The entry should contain up to 40 images (blank or black slides to separate content will not count towards the total). At least one pictures story is required – containing up to 12 images each. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). The picture story entered should be a STORY and not a group of images. Two-thirds of all pictures in all picture stories and singles must have been published. 

Emerging Vision Photojournalist of The Year: A portfolio of images created by an individual who has been in the photojournalism profession for two years or less. Photographers who have left the business and then come back are not qualified. The two-year period is defined as starting two years prior to the last eligible date for photographs entered in the current year’s contest. For example, the last day a piece of work can be created to be entered in contest year 2023 is 12/31/2023, so to be eligible for Emerging Vision POY, the entrant must have started their career after 12/31/2021. Please note that freelancing and “part time” professional work is still professional work. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out to [email protected]. Photojournalists from any news publication, wire service or magazine may enter. Independent photographers may also enter this category. The entry should contain up to 40 images (blank or black slides to separate content will not count towards the total). At least two picture stories are required containing up to 12 images each. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). Two-thirds of all pictures in all picture stories and singles must have been published. 

Cliff Edom New America Award: In urban communities and rural towns, the spirit of diversity is celebrated and witnessed in everyday life. Our goal is to recognize photographic storytelling that focuses on communities, diverse groups, and issues in America that are often under-covered in the media. 

Acknowledging the genius and effectiveness of Cliff Edom’s vision, approach and passion for teaching, we ask you to contribute your entries. Cliff Edom (1907-1991) began his experimentation in photographic education in 1943. His purpose was to provide access to the community life of a small town (and local communities) for photographers so that they could hone and develop photojournalistic skills. 

The entry may contain up to 24 images. Long-term stories up to four years are eligible but 25% of the images must have been taken or initially published in 2023. In the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). Two-thirds of all pictures in the story must have been published.

Breaking News: A photograph from a spontaneous or breaking news event.

Breaking News Story:  A picture story from a spontaneous or breaking news event. The entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

General News: An issue-based or general news photograph. (Breaking news and political single photographs should be entered in their respective categories.)

General News Story: An issue-based or general news picture story. (Breaking news and political picture stories should be entered in their respective categories.) The entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

Feature: A single photograph that captures the human-interest of daily life or a fresh view of an everyday scene in a found situation.

Feature Story: A picture story that captures the human-interest of daily life. The entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

Politics: A photograph from election coverage, coverage of political candidates, and other political issues.

Politics Story: A picture story from election coverage, coverage of political candidates and other political issues. The entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

Science: A photograph that illuminates a specific scientific issue, story, breakthrough, or crisis. Reporting on the climate crisis belongs here. Reporting on the pandemic belongs here. Reporting on issues related to the natural world belong here, as do science-related stories of smaller scale such as local policy or environmental issues.

Science Story: A picture story that illuminates a specific scientific issue, story, breakthrough, or crisis. Reporting on the climate crisis belongs here. Reporting on the pandemic belongs here. Reporting on issues related to the natural world belong here, as do science-related stories of smaller scale such as local policy or environmental issues. This entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

Portrait/ Personality: A single photograph that captures a unique aspect of a person’s character or personality.

Portrait Series: Multiple photographs that capture a unique aspect of one or more person’s character or personality. The unifying theme must be held together by a narrative thread, consistent photographic style and/or compelling environment with an obvious connection between the individual(s) being documented. This entry may contain up to 12 images.  Within the caption block of the first image in a series, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

Sports Action: A peak action photograph that captures the spirit of a sports competition – either on the part of an individual or a team.

Sports Feature: A sports-related feature photograph. The event covered should be separate from the game action or outside of the field of play.

Sports Picture Story: A series of pictures that depicts a story line or single theme that build a visual narrative. Individual game galleries should not be entered here. This entry may contain up to 12 images. Within the caption block of the first image in a story, you must include a short overall story description at the top of the caption (up to 100 words). More than one-half of the images must have been published.

You can submit a comment on this form until November 6, 2023.