The prestigious Folio Awards are the gold standard for excellence in the modern media landscape. Hosted by the Fair Media Council, the Folio Awards recognize journalism that drives truth and impact, offering unmatched visibility to influential leaders across media, business, and nonprofits. Winning this award solidifies your credibility and commitment to quality, opening doors for career growth and deeper professional connections. Be part of the mission to advocate for quality news and shape a more informed, engaged society by entering the Folio Awards today.

Everyone is eligible: Professionals, freelancers & students, on the national, regional and local news levels. The entry form will ask how to classify your entry to ensure you compete against peers and similar size outlets. 

This signature award of the Fair Media Council was established to recognize the importance of quality news in our society. The entry must include information that illustrates the impact of the story. Because impact may take time to occur, this is the ONLY category where the story may have been published or broadcast up to 26 months prior to the Folio Awards entry deadline of Feb. 1. (All other news categories have a requirement of running within the prior calendar year.)

To underscore our commitment to quality news, this entry includes a modest cash prize of $1,000, total. The award may be given to the news outlet, individual, or group of individuals that participated in a meaningful way to bring the story to light.  The awardee also has the choice to gift the monetary prize back to FMC, if deemed appropriate. 

Stories must be as they were published or broadcast. National, regional and local news stories are eligible. Click on the “categories” tab in the navigation bar to see category descriptions. Plus, the categories are listed in the same order on the entry form, to make things easier for you. 

Entries must have been published or broadcast during the calendar year of 2024, with one exception: The Truth & Impact Award allows for being published or broadcast up to 26 months prior to the Folio Awards deadline of Feb. 1. This additional time is allotted to properly illustrate impact. 

The Fair Media Council uses a scorecard method for judging; multiple judges score every entry. Our judges represent distinguished industry professionals and community leaders. What wins a Folio represents not only the highest-quality news but also news that resonates with its audience. 

Typically, between six and 15 judges will score an entry. The scorecard includes many key factors for quality news, including but not limited to story topic, storytelling ability, balanced presentation for fairness, diversity of sources and opinions, completeness, and excellent visual and editing standards.  

News categories do change from year to year, so please review them all before you begin. If your entry fits multiple categories, you may enter the same story in as many categories as you wish, but please note an entry fee applies to each submission. If our judges feel your entry is in the wrong category, they may move it a category they feel is more appropriate. 

Also, please be certain to mark the proper “level” of news you are entering: National, regional or local. This will ensure your entry competes against competitors of similar size.

We try to make entering as easy as possible. It should take about 10 minutes to enter, assuming you have the correct information, which includes story name, date, individual names and titles, and link(s).

The information that appears on your entry form will be used in published materials, should your entry win. Please be sure to check your entry for accuracy and completeness BEFORE you hit that send button.  Warning: There will be no preview screen. Be sure to have correct spelling of names and titles, proper name of story to be entered, and publication or broadcast dates. 

Entry fees apply to each submission. If entering the same story in more than one category, a fee applies for each category. We use a tiered system to encourage early submission. Entry fees are not refundable. 

Email info@fairmediacouncil.org with any questions, or call 516-224-1860, ext. 1. (Please note holiday hours will be in effect from Christmas through New Year’s, so please review entry requirements accordingly.)