New Folio Award Categories for News Announced

Introducing FMC’s Signature Award with $1,000 Cash Prize

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is proud to introduce new Folio Award categories and our new signature award, the Truth & Impact Award, which features a $1,000 prize. The gold standard for the modern media landscape, the Folio Awards honor the best in national, regional, and local news, as well as student journalism. 

Entries are now open, with a final submission deadline of February 1, 2025. Stories broadcast or published in the 2024 calendar year are eligible. 

Signature Award

• Truth & Impact Award:  The Fair Media Council Truth & Impact Award recognizes journalism that not only uncovers the truth but also has a demonstrable impact on society, leading to significant, documented change or awareness. Given the nature of this award, special rules apply: Stories may have been published or broadcast up to 26 months prior to the Folio Awards final entry deadline of Feb. 1. This is the only news award to include a cash prize.

Major Awards

• Story of the Year
• Best Newscast
• Best Newspaper
• Best News Special Report
• Best Talk Show/Magazine
• Best Anchor
• Best Reporter
• Best News Documentary
• Best News Podcast
• Best Feature or Interview Story

Breaking News & Special Coverage

• Breaking News
• Post-Covid Social Issues
• Best Local Reporting on National Issues
• Best Collaborative National/Local News Story
• Best Visual & Multimedia Storytelling
• Continuous News Coverage
• Disaster & Crisis Reporting

Investigative, Public Service & Watchdog Journalism

• Investigative Reporting (Robert W. Greene Award)
• Environmental and Sustainability Reporting
• Watchdog Issues
• Excellence in Solutions Journalism
• Local News Preservation
• Human Rights Reporting
• Enterprise Reporting

Business, Economy & Technology

• Business News Coverage
• Employment & Work Issues
• Technology and Innovation Reporting
• Ethics Reporting
• Science and Technology Reporting
• Data Journalism
• Business & Development Reporting
• Environment & Infrastructure Reporting

Commentary, Columns & Editorial

• Best Column
• Best Commentary
• Best Editorial
• Best Editorial Cartoon

Education Coverage

• Education Reporting
• Education Trends & Innovation

Health & Wellness Coverage

• Health and Wellness Reporting
• Healthcare Trends & Innovation
• Health Innovations Reporting

Social & Cultural Coverage

• Cultural & Youth Reporting
• Housing Reporting
• Religion Reporting (Msgr. Hartman Award)
• Community & Service Reporting
• Global-to-Local Reporting
• Social Justice Reporting
• Historical Reporting
• Lifestyle & Entertainment Coverage
• Self-Care, Recovery & Positive News Coverage

Folio Awards Luncheon & Sponsorship Opportunities

FMC’s Folio Awards Luncheon will take place Thursday, June 12, 2025, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Garden City Hotel. In addition, the Folio Awards Magazine will highlight this year’s honorees and offer exclusive opportunities for sponsors to showcase their brand’s commitment to credibility, transparency, and accountability. 

Enter Today

Entries are now open! To view the full list of categories, submit your work, or explore sponsorship and advertising opportunities, visit Folio Awards – Fair Media Council (FMC). 

About the Fair Media Council
Founded in 1979, the Fair Media Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advocating for quality news and creating a media-savvy society.