News Categories
Introducing the Fair Media Council’s Signature Folio Award, the Truth & Impact Award, plus newly streamlined and expanded news categories to better reflect the modern media landscape and society today.
All are eligible to enter the Folio Awards. Please review categories carefully, as some stories may be eligible for entry in multiple categories.
Official List: News Categories & Descriptions
Signature Award
- Truth & Impact – 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 – Recognizes the most impactful and significant news story of the year.
- Best Newscast – Award for excellence in overall newscast production and content.
- Best Newspaper – Recognizes outstanding performance in newspaper journalism, either print or digital.
- Best News Special Report– Honors excellence in special broadcast, print or multimedia news for in-depth reporting.
- Best Talk Show/Magazine – Awards excellence in news talk shows or magazine-style programs.
- Best Anchor – Recognizes the best performance by a news anchor.
- Best Reporter – Award for individual excellence in news reporting.
- Best News Documentary – Recognizes excellence in long-form, documentary-style reporting on important news topics.
- Best News Podcast – Recognizes excellence in podcasting by a news outlet, focused on delivering news and analysis.
- Best Feature or Interview Story – May include long-form journalism and/or interview-based reporting, highlighting strong storytelling that offers deep perspective and background.
Breaking News & Special Coverage
- Breaking News – Recognizes excellence in timely, accurate, and impactful breaking news coverage.
- Post-Covid Social Issues – Focuses on how communities, including workplaces, are addressing social issues in the post-pandemic world.
- Best Local Reporting on National Issues – Recognizes stories that explore the local impact of national or international events.
- Best Collaborative National/Local News Story – Recognizes cooperative efforts between national and local outlets to deliver comprehensive news coverage.
- Best Visual & Multimedia Storytelling – Combines photography, video, and/or interactive elements to showcase visual storytelling of current events.
- Best Feature or Interview Story – May combine long-form journalism and/or interview-based reporting, highlighting strong storytelling on a timely topic.
- Continuous News Coverage – Recognizes outstanding journalism that follows a story and its impact.
- Disaster & Crisis Reporting – Recognizes outstanding journalism that covers natural disasters or other major crises, and their societal impact.
Investigative, Public Service & Watchdog Journalism
- Investigative Reporting (Robert W. Greene Award) – Award for excellence in uncovering information of public interest and holding institutions accountable.
- Environmental and Sustainability Reporting – For exceptional journalism on environmental and sustainability issues, including investigative work.
- Watchdog Issues – Recognizes journalism that holds those in power, including people and institutions, accountable.
- Excellence in Solutions Journalism – Recognizes exceptional stories that not only identify problems but also explore and present solutions.
- Local News Preservation – Explores efforts to preserve local journalism, focusing on how local news shapes and impacts communities.
- Human Rights Reporting – Focuses on journalism that sheds light on human rights violations or advocacy.
- Enterprise Reporting – Recognizes exceptional journalism that sheds light on a topic that is overlooked and underreported. Entry may include a series of stories.
Business, Economy & Technology
- Business News Coverage– Recognizes excellence in reporting on business news, including corporate developments and market trends.
- Employment & Work Issues – Awards journalism that highlights employment trends, labor issues, and work-related topics.
- Technology and Innovation Reporting – Focuses on innovations in technology and their societal impact, including science and tech advancements.
- Ethics Reporting – Focuses on ethical considerations of advancing technologies (such as AI or medical cloning, for example) and their impact on society.
- Science and Technology Reporting – For exceptional journalism covering scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations.
- Data Journalism – Recognizes outstanding use of data in storytelling, showing the power of data-driven journalism to engage audiences.
- Business & Development Reporting – Includes small business and real estate/development news, focusing on economic growth and community impact.
Environment & Infrastructure Reporting – Includes issues such as transportation, weather, boating and coastal living incorporated into infrastructure-related news coverage.
Commentary, Columns & Editorial
- Best Column – Recognizes excellence in opinion columns on current events or public issues.
- Best Commentary – Awards insightful and impactful commentary on pressing issues.
- Best Editorial – Recognizes excellence in editorial writing on important societal issues.
- Best Editorial Cartoon – Honors creative editorial cartoons that make a statement on current events, societal trends, and/or accountability issues.
Education Coverage
- Education Reporting – Recognizes outstanding journalism covering educational systems, policies, and reforms.
- Education Trends & Innovation – Focuses on emerging trends and innovations within the education sector, such as new teaching methods or technologies impacting education.
Health & Wellness Coverage
- Health and Wellness Reporting – Honors exceptional reporting on health and wellness issues, including digital wellness, ranging from policy to personal and mental well-being.
- Healthcare Trends & Innovation – Highlights emerging trends in healthcare and innovative approaches impacting health systems, including new technologies, and the business of healthcare.
- Health Innovations Reporting – Focuses on new breakthroughs, medical advancements, and innovative healthcare solutions for healthier lifestyles and better quality of life.
Social & Cultural Coverage
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Cultural & Youth Reporting – Combines arts, culture, and youth-related issues, focusing on how cultural and generational trends shape society.
- Housing Reporting – Honors exceptional reporting on housing issues, including affordability, policy, and urban or suburban development.
- Religion Reporting (Msgr. Hartman Award) – Focuses on journalism that explores the role of religion in society and its impact.
- Community & Service Reporting – Combines community affairs, community service, and/or nonprofit news, recognizing the importance of community-oriented journalism.
- Global-to-Local Reporting – Combines coverage of global crises and immigration, exploring how international events affect local communities.
- Social Justice Reporting – Highlights journalism focused on systemic issues such as inequality, legal reform, and civil rights.
- Historical Reporting – Recognizes exceptional journalism focused on historical topics and their relevance to modern society.
- Lifestyle & Entertainment Coverage – Includes lifestyle topics such as food, travel, wellness, and entertainment news.
- Self-Care, Recovery & Positive News Coverage – Uplifting news coverage that informs and enlightens.