The Online News Association (ONA) is proud to announce the finalists in the 2026 Online Journalism Awards (OJAs), the premier global prizes that have set the bar for excellence and innovation in digital journalism since 2000.
Volunteer screeners and judges representing a diverse cross-section of the industry reviewed and selected the finalist projects. In the General Excellence category, the finalist organizations across four newsroom sizes include Bellingcat, Block Club Chicago, Civil Eats, Grist, Jacksonville Today, LA NACION, Local News International, Mission Local, The New York Times, ProPublica, The Pudding, The Seattle Times and The Verge.
For the 2026 OJAs, four awards come with a total of $36,000 in prize money, courtesy of The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication’s Agora Journalism Center, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute. These awards honor community-centered journalism, investigative data journalism, service journalism and general excellence.
Winners in 16 of the 28 categories of the 2026 OJAs will be announced Thursday, Sept. 3, at 2 p.m. EDT, during a virtual awards event hosted by ONA Executive Director/CEO Niketa Patel, Deputy Director Hanaa Rifaey, and 2025 Founder Award recipient Robert Hernandez. RSVP for the virtual event.
Winners in the remaining set of categories will be announced Thursday, October 1, at City Winery in New York City at the Online Journalism Awards Celebration. Tickets and tables are available for purchase.
The ceremony will also celebrate the 2026 recipients of two individual honors, the Impact Award and the Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award.
The honorees in the 2026 OJAs represent some of the most ambitious, courageous and impactful work in the field. Explore the finalist projects.
Breaking News, Large Newsroom
Breaking News, Small/Medium Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Long Form, Large Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Long Form, Small/Medium Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Series, Large Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Series, Small/Medium Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Short Form, Large Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Short Form, Small/Medium Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Social Media, Large Newsroom
Digital Video Storytelling, Social Media, Small/Medium Newsroom
Excellence in AI Innovation, Large Newsroom
Excellence in AI Innovation, Small Newsroom
Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Daily/Weekly News
Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Limited Series
Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Ongoing Series
Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Use of Audio Storytelling
Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships
Excellence in Newsletters, Portfolio
Excellence in Newsletters, Single Newsletter
Excellence in Science Reporting, Large Newsroom
Excellence in Science Reporting, Small/Medium Newsroom
Excellence in Social Justice Reporting, Portfolio
Excellence in Social Justice Reporting, Single Story
Excellence in Social Media Engagement, Large Newsroom
Excellence in Social Media Engagement, Medium Newsroom
Excellence in Social Media Engagement, Small Newsroom
Excellence in Sports Reporting
Excellence in Sports Reporting, Small/Medium Newsroom
Excellence in Technology Reporting, Large Newsroom
Excellence in Technology Reporting, Medium Newsroom
Excellence in Technology Reporting, Small Newsroom
‘Excellence in Visual Digital Storytelling, Large Newsroom
Excellence in Visual Digital Storytelling, Medium Newsroom
Excellence in Visual Digital Storytelling, Small Newsroom
Explanatory Reporting, Large Newsroom
Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom
Explanatory Reporting, Small Newsroom
Feature, Large Newsroom
Feature, Medium Newsroom
Feature, Small Newsroom
Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism, Overall Excellence, Community-Based & Rural Focus
Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism, Overall Excellence, Urban & National Focus
General Excellence in Online Journalism, Large Newsroom
General Excellence in Online Journalism, Medium Newsroom
General Excellence in Online Journalism, Micro Newsroom
General Excellence in Online Journalism, Small Newsroom
Innovation in Revenue Strategy, Large Newsroom
Innovation in Revenue Strategy, Medium Newsroom
Knight Award for Public Service
Online Commentary, Package of Columns
Online Commentary, Personal Narrative
Student Journalism Award
The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Large Newsroom
The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Medium Newsroom
The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Small Newsroom
The University of Florida Award in Investigative Data Journalism, Large Newsroom
The University of Florida Award in Investigative Data Journalism, Small/Medium Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence, Large Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence, Medium Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence, Micro Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence, Small Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Gender and Identity, Large Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Gender and Identity, Medium Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Gender and Identity, Small Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Immigration, Large Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Immigration, Medium Newsroom
Topical Reporting: Immigration, Small Newsroom
Note: Judges were recused from reviewing and discussing entries from their own organizations.
Judges for the OJAs are senior-level journalism professionals. They review semi-finalist submissions, as determined by screeners, and convene for live deliberation to determine the finalists and winners. Many judges have served as screeners in past years to build a clear understanding of the review process and the distinctions that make a journalism project OJA-worthy. Learn more about volunteering with the OJAs.
Posted By
Erin McGregor
Categories
Announcement