Who Can Enter

Entries are open to all: news professionals, freelancers, students, and news organizations at the national, regional, or local level. The entry form will also ask you to classify your entry level (national, regional, local) so you compete against comparable outlets.

About the Truth & Impact Award

The Truth & Impact Award is the highest news honor, recognizing journalism that not only uncovers the truth but also demonstrates meaningful, documented impact. This is the only news award with a cash prize of $1,000.

Due to the nature of the category, Truth & Impact Award entries may have been published or broadcast up to 26 months prior to the entry deadline (Feb. 1). (All other news categories require work from the previous calendar year.)

The cash prize may be awarded to a news outlet, individual, or group, or returned to the Fair Media Council, to support its mission.

Entry Requirements

• Entries must have been published or broadcast within the required eligibility period.
• Submissions must include accurate story title(s), date(s), and working link(s).
• Entrants must provide names and titles exactly as they should appear on certificates. No changes will be accepted after submission.
• Student entries must be created by currently enrolled students.
• Entrants must disclose whether AI was used in the creation or editing of the entry.

How Entries Are Judged

Entries are evaluated by multiple judges using FMC’s proprietary scorecard, which emphasizes:

• Quality of storytelling
• Accuracy, fairness, balance and completeness
• Presentation quality
• Professionalism

Judges may reassign an entry to a more appropriate category at their discretion.

Choosing Proper Category

• Review the current list of categories carefully before submitting.
• If a story fits multiple categories, you may enter it in more than one (fees apply to each).
• Entrants must classify their work as National, Regional, or Local news to ensure fair competition.

Preparing to Enter

Before submitting, please:

• Verify spelling of names and titles exactly as they should appear on certificates, should the entry win.
• Confirm publication or broadcast dates.
• Provide accurate links.
• Complete the entry form carefully before submitting. ⚠️ There is no preview screen.

Entry Fees

• A fee applies to each submission.
• Fees are tiered by date — the earlier you enter, the lower the fee.
• Entries submitted without payment will not be judged.
• All fees are nonrefundable.

Rights & Permissions

By entering, submitters grant the Fair Media Council (FMC) the unrestricted right to use submitted materials for judging, promotion, publicity, education, and archival purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, displaying entries in print, digital, or live event formats; referencing them in FMC communications; and maintaining them in FMC’s archives.

Entrants retain copyright to their original work but agree that FMC may use their entries in whole or in part without further permission or compensation.

Questions?

Email info@fairmediacouncil.org with any questions, or call 516-224-1860, ext. 1. Please allow two business days for a response. (Please note: FMC’s office has limited availability between Christmas and New Year’s.)