AAN Awards 2025 – Categories
Note: The 2025 AAN Awards cover content published Jan-Dec 2024. There is one exception (Investigative Reporting) where some pieces could be outside calendar 2024; see that category for details.
AAN Excellence in Journalism Award
$2500 cash award funded by the Apples and Oranges Fund.
Recognizing a news organization for a story (or series), in print and/or online, that has impacted their community in a measurable way, advanced knowledge and progress, and/or rooted out corruption. Reporting can be in any area—news, arts or culture. (You can enter stories in this category that you also submit in other categories.)
Arts Criticism (Jim Ridley Award)
$500 cash award funded by the Nashville Scene.
Each entry must consist of one to three pieces of criticism by the same author or writing team. The criticism may pertain to any cultural genre except music or food. The acceptable genres include (but are not limited to) literature, film, dance, video, video games, multimedia, photography, painting, sculpture, theater and performance art. This award is dedicated in the honor of former Nashville Scene editor Jim Ridley.
Arts Feature—Long form
Each entry must consist of a single feature at least 1,500 words in length, or a series of features written by the same author or writing team. It may pertain to any arts genre, including (but not limited to) film, music, literature, dance, video, video games, multimedia, photography, painting, sculpture, theater and performance art.
Arts Feature—Shorter form
Each entry must consist of a single feature no longer than 1,500 words, by the same author or writing team. It may pertain to any arts genre, including (but not limited to) film, music, literature, dance, video, video games, multimedia, photography, painting, sculpture, theater and performance art.
Beat Reporting
Each entry must consist of three to five pieces showing breadth and depth of coverage on a specific area of interest (e.g., education, environment, business, sports) by a single author. Entries may include blog posts, features, and/or multimedia components as part of the body of work work.
Note: You should not include food, arts, cannabis, music, environment, right-wing extremist or health care writing in this category, as those beats have their own categories.
Cannabis Coverage
Each entry must consist of one to three unrelated pieces by the same author or writing team that focus on cannabis or the cannabis industry.
Column-Political
Each entry must consist of three representative columns by the same author or same writing team that focus on politics or government. Unsigned editorials may be entered in this category as long as all three editorials are written by the same author or writing team.
Column (Billy Manes Award)
$500 cash award funded by The Billy Manes Foundation and Watermark Out News.
Each entry must consist of three representative columns by the same author or writing team on any topic other than politics. Unsigned editorials may be entered in this category as long as all three editorials are written by the same author or writing team.
Environmental Coverage
Each entry must consist of a single story or series focusing on the environment or issues surrounding the environment.
Explanatory Journalism
Each entry must consist of a single news story or series that attempts, as Digiday puts it, “to present nuanced, ongoing news stories in a more accessible manner.” Explanatory stories tackle complex topics, providing context and history.
Feature Story – Long form
Each entry must consist of a single, non-arts-related feature at least 1,500 words in length, or a series of features by the same author or writing team. Features are human-interest stories that may be inspired by the news but are more vividly written and generally delve deeper into the character of a person, group, thing or place than a straight-news story would.
Feature Story – Shorter form
Each entry must consist of a single, non-arts-related feature less than 1,500 words in length. Features are human-interest stories that may be inspired by the news but are more vividly written and generally delve deeper into the character of a person, group, thing or place than a straight-news story would.
Food Writing
Each entry must consist of one to three unrelated pieces by the same author or writing team that focus on food, drinks or restaurants.
Health Care Reporting
Each entry must contain a single story or series focusing on health care.
Investigative Reporting (David Carr Award)
$500 cash award funded by AAN Publishers
Each entry must consist of a single news story or a series by the same author or writing team that displays evidence of extensive research and investigation to cover an issue vital to its community. This category allows work published outside of the Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024, contest period, but the bulk of the reporting must have been published in 2024.
Each entry must also include a statement from the member publication explaining what reporting techniques were required, what obstacles were overcome and what impact, if any, the story had on the community. Use the Impact Statement tab in the online awards submission.
LGBTQ+ Coverage
$500 cash prize funded by Colorado Springs Independent publisher Fran Zankowski.
Each entry must consist of a single story or series focusing on LGBTQ+ issues.
Music Writing
Each entry must consist of up to three unrelated pieces by the same author or writing team. Pieces can focus on any genre of music.
News Story – Long form
Each entry must contain a single multi-sourced hard-news story at least 1,500 words in length.
Additionally, up to two stories following up on that initial story, written by the same author or writing team, may be included (but are not required).
News Story – Shorter form
Each entry must contain a single multi-sourced hard-news story no longer than 1,500 words.
Additionally, up to two stories following up on that initial story, written by the same author or writing team, may be included (but are not required).
Right-Wing Extremism Coverage
Each entry must consist of a single news story or a series focusing on white supremacy, neo-nazi movements, Christian nationalism etc.
Solutions Journalism
Each entry must consist of a single news story or series that covers solutions to common problems in the publication’s community. As the Solutions Journalism Network puts it, these stories are “focused on advancing rigorous reporting about how people are trying to solve problems and what we can learn from their successes and failures.”
DESIGN CATEGORIES
Cover Design
$300 cash award from AAN Executive Committee
Each entry must consist of three separate front covers that appeared in the member publication in 2024. The covers of inserts and inside sections are not eligible. Photos and illustrations used in one of the submitted cover designs may also be entered in the Photography or Illustration category.
Online Story Presentation
Each entry is an online story or package that demonstrates use of images, callouts, audio, video, illustrations, infographics or other design and layout elements to help tell the story in an impactful way that differs from the typical news or feature story on your website.
Editorial Layout – Print
Each entry must consist of a complete layout that is no longer than seven spreads. The layout may be a single article, an article with sidebars or several articles that were clearly published together as part of a package. The photos, illustrations or front cover of the editorial layout may not be submitted in one of the other Design categories.
Illustration
Each entry must consist of a single illustration or set of illustrations for a single story. The illustration(s) must be original to the member publication. If a set of illustrations is submitted, all must be by the same artist or the same team of artists. Illustrations submitted to this category may also be submitted in the Cover Design category.
Photography
Each entry may consist of up to ten photos by the same photographer or team of photographers. If the photos have been digitally altered in any way beyond conventional cropping and sizing, please attach a description of the alteration and how it was achieved to each copy of the entry. Photos submitted to this category may also be submitted in the Cover Design category.
OUTSIDE-THE-BOX CATEGORIES
Ad Marketing Campaign (Created In-House)
Submit up to five examples (print ads, digital ads, posts, etc.) of a single marketing campaign designed in-house in 2024. This can be a house-ad campaign on behalf of your publication, or it can be a campaign developed entirely in-house for a client.
Use the Impact Statement tab in the online awards submission to explain the campaign if desired; not required.
Newsletter – Digital
Submit three editions of a digital newsletter produced by the publication. Newsletters will be judged based on their impact beyond the publisher’s website, the design of the newsletter and writing that’s exclusive to the newsletter.
Use the Impact Statement tab to tell us more about the strategy behind this newsletter.
Special Section – Print
Each entry must consist of a special section or supplement that is not part of the regular print publication lineup. Examples are a “Best Of” issue, Holiday Gift Guide, Fashion Guide or Summer Guide.
Special Publication – Print
Each entry must consist of a publication distributed independently of the regular publication, such as quarterly or annual glossy magazines that operate as stand-alone brands. Special sections(distributed in place of or as part of your regular publication) have their own category. Examples include annual manuals or newcomers’ guides; standalone bar, nightlife, drinking or cannabis-focused publications; and tourism or college magazines.
OPEN NOMINATIONS – Business and Spirit Awards
Note: These nominations are accepted via this Google form, not the Awards software. Thanks!
Publisher of the Year
Nominate an owner, publisher, general manager or executive director who has guided their publication to significant impact in their community in 2024 through new products, financial growth, or the production of new, important journalism.
Salesperson of the Year
$300 cash award from AAN Executive Committee
Nominate a salesperson who has exceeded goals and expectations in 2024, had an important impact on their publication’s ability to report the news or who has proved invaluable to their organization in other ways that helped the business sustain and thrive.
John Heaston Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominate an owner, manager or staff member of an AAN publication—or an individual member of AAN Publishers—who has served their local community, the AAN community and the field of local journalism through years of sustained effort, experience, mentorship and leadership.
Spirit of AAN Awards
Nominate a member of the AAN community who went above and beyond in 2024 to help others in the industry or who significantly impacted their local community.
