Nominate Your Project for an Award
The Solutions Journalism Network Awards honor and celebrate outstanding examples of solutions journalism from around the world. By spotlighting these stories, we aim to elevate what excellence in this craft looks like and inspire more rigorous, impactful reporting.
2024-25 Awards
We're gathering a panel of experts to evaluate, celebrate and amplify excellence in solutions journalism globally. Help recognize the best work in the field and connect with other leaders in the network. Apply by Nov. 21, 2025.
Submissions for the 2024-25 Awards open on Dec. 1, 2025, and close on Feb. 27, 2026.
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Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
- The submission’s strength in meeting the four pillars of solutions journalism, as defined by the Solutions Journalism Network.
- The submission’s adherence to the U.S.-based Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
- Factors such as accuracy, fairness, balance and adherence to professional standards.
Entries will be screened by SJN’s Solutions Story Tracker team* and then distributed to a diverse group of judges drawn from SJN’s network of staff, accredited trainers, newsroom partners, journalism school educators and journalists.
*Acknowledgment of AI-Assisted Evaluation: To efficiently manage the high volume of submissions, an AI tool built to identify solutions journalism will be used to assist in the initial evaluation of entries. This tool will serve as a pre-screening aid to help identify reporting relevant to the goals of this solutions journalism awards contest. Importantly, the AI does not replace human judgment. All final decisions will be made by judges, with human oversight present throughout the evaluation process.
A Look Back at Past Winners
Congratulations to Solutions Journalism Network Award Winners! In 2023, the award-winning projects were by Peter Yeung and Melanie Pérez Arias, Laure Delacloche, Joseph Winters, Sanket Jain, Helina Selemon, Myra Anubi, Leigh Paterson, Ryan Conarro, Rhonet Atwiine, Jhostyn Díaz, Tyler Hickman and Sophie Ralph.
Eligibility Requirements
The Solutions Journalism Network Awards are open to journalists worldwide — whether working in newsrooms of any size or independently. All entrants must submit their own original published work. Entries are accepted across all platforms, including digital, video, print, podcast and radio. For a series, please submit one representative story. If you are submitting on someone else’s behalf, you must have their confirmed permission to do so.
Multiple entries: An individual journalist may submit up to two bylined entries in total. Please submit one form per entry.
Publication date: Eligible entries must have been published or aired between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2025.
The bylined authors and producers: Every story submitted must include a byline, where an author or producer is credited for transparency. News outlet editorials are permitted formats. Authors cannot write about their own initiatives, research studies or approaches, but rather must report independently on the work of others.
Note: A check-box will be included in the submission form to identify when the entered work is created by a student journalist.
The publishing news outlet: The news source and journalist must demonstrate no vested interest in the initiative mentioned in the narrative. The news source can specialize in an issue area, but its stories should not represent or reflect the views of special interests or provide publicity for a specific product or approach, or an affiliated organization. Stories that are paid content will not qualify.
Language requirements: Entries must be in English. Each entry must be submitted as it appeared when published. Subtitled works are acceptable if published this way.
Entry requirements: Each story must include an individual URL, date, title, author credit and news outlet name.
File requirements: All entries must link to a published piece, and entrants must provide a courtesy access link for paywalled pieces.
Note: AI-generated stories will not be considered. We recognize that AI is becoming part of the reporting environment. However, entries in which AI has generated substantial portions of the narrative — without meaningful human reporting, verification and authorship — will not be considered.
Award Categories
This award celebrates the single entry that encapsulates the definition and four pillars of solutions journalism. An entry is made eligible for this award once it has won the award in any of the following specialist categories.
This award honors solutions journalism produced as an article in either a digital-only, digital-first or print publication, including newspapers, magazines and news websites. There is one award per newsroom size category (small, large).
Size Sub-Category definitions:
- Small newsrooms = Fewer than 50 employees
- Large newsrooms = 50 or more employees
- Freelancers should submit in the category based on the size of the organization where their work was published.
This award celebrates solutions journalism produced in video format for television broadcast, YouTube or other video platforms. Video submissions must be under 10 minutes.
This award recognizes solutions journalism produced as an audio-only story, including radio, podcasts or audio stories published on audio platforms such as: Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, etc. Please note: Entries in this audio category will be judged independently of any other story elements, including accompanying text and photos. Audio submissions must be under 20 minutes.
This award recognizes solutions journalism told through visual storytelling, such as photography, data visualizations, graphics, animations, etc. Please note: Entries in this visual image category will be judged independently of any other story elements, including accompanying text or audio.
This award honors solutions journalism that is published with at least two different storytelling elements (such as text, audio, visuals, video, etc.). Each medium should contribute meaningfully to advancing the story and deepening audience understanding.
This award honors solutions journalism that was published or aired in on-campus media or student news services. Graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to submit entries. Students may be full-time or part-time and must attend any two- or four-year university or college at the time of publication.The category is open to the following formats: written form (print or online), audio or video. Please note: Audio and video entries will be judged independently of any other story elements, including accompanying text and photos. Video stories must be under 10 minutes in length and audio stories must be under 20 minutes in length.
Acknowledgement of Publishing Submissions to the Solutions Story Tracker: All award winners will be added to SJN’s Solutions Story Tracker. Award finalists may be added to the Story Tracker at the discretion of Story Tracker leadership.
The SJN staff and awards judges reserve the right to reassign an entry to a different category or to withhold an award in any category if deemed appropriate.
Things To Do Before Entering
- Familiarize yourself with the Eligibility Requirements and Awards Categories sections, mapped above.
- Make sure your published work encompasses the four pillars of solutions journalism — if you’re not sure, see here for more information.
How to Submit
- Submit your entry via the online submission form (link to come on Dec. 1, 2025).
- Complete the form in its entirety.
- Attach a link to the published work (must be a courtesy access link for paywalled pieces).
- Provide an optional brief comment (maximum 200-word count) on your submission.
Legal and Privacy Terms
Legal Terms and Conditions: By submitting an entry to the Solutions Journalism Network Awards (“SJN Awards”), you (synonymously, “Entrant”) agree to the following Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before submitting your work.
- Eligibility. Entrance to the SJN Awards is open to individuals 18 years of age or older. Entries must be submitted in English, but we welcome entrants from anywhere in the world.
- Submission Process. Entries must be submitted via our official submission form hosted on FormAssembly. All entries must be received by the deadline stated on the submission page. Late submissions will not be considered.
- Intellectual Property and License. Entrants (or their organizations/employers) retain full ownership of any intellectual property in the work they submit. By submitting your work, you grant Solutions Journalism Network (“SJN”) a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, display and distribute your submission (including text, images, videos, etc.) on SJN’s websites, newsletters, social media channels and other promotional materials for purposes including, but not limited to, promoting the SJN Awards and showcasing finalists and winners. You also grant SJN the right to archive your work as part of its historical record of the awards.
- Representations and Warranties. By submitting, you represent and warrant that: The work is your original creation or that you have obtained all necessary permissions to submit the work and to grant the license above; the submission does not infringe on any copyright, trademark, moral rights or other intellectual property rights of any third party; you have the full authority to grant the rights outlined in these terms.
- Judging. Judges for the SJN Awards will be selected by SJN through an open application process. Judging decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Award. The number of awards and the amount of each award is at the discretion of SJN and subject to available funding. - Publicity. Finalists and winners may be featured on SJN’s website, newsletter, social media and other promotional platforms. By submitting, you consent to the use of your name, image, likeness and submitted materials for promotional purposes without additional compensation.
- Disqualification. Submissions that do not comply with these terms or that are found to contain false information or plagiarized content may be disqualified at any time, at the sole discretion of SJN.
- Limitation of Liability. SJN is not responsible for any technical issues, data loss or failed submissions arising from use of the FormAssembly platform. SJN shall not be liable for any damages arising from or related to your participation in the SJN Awards, including but not limited to any claims based on intellectual property infringement.
- Modification or Cancellation. SJN reserves the right to modify, suspend or cancel the SJN Awards or these Terms and Conditions at any time.
Privacy Terms: The information you share will be used to review your entry to the SJN Awards. We will never sell or transfer your information to third parties for commercial or advertising purposes. We may use your information to link you to opportunities and connections within our network. If selected, your name, organizational affiliation, entry and selected comments from award judges may be shared in SJN communications, including but not limited to the website, newsletters, social media and The Whole Story blog. View our privacy policy.
Award FAQs
There’s no fee to enter. Each submission must include a completed entry form from the creator, or confirmation that the creator has given permission for someone else to submit on their behalf.
A diverse panel of experienced solutions journalism practitioners and experts from around the world will serve as judges across the various award categories.
Yes. A custom-built AI tool will assist in evaluating entries for The Best of Solutions Journalism in News Articles category for both small and large newsrooms. To efficiently manage the high volume of submissions in this category, this specialized tool — designed to identify the four pillars of solutions journalism — will be used in the initial screening phase. Importantly, this AI tool will not replace human judgment. All final evaluations and decisions will be made by judges, with human oversight guiding the process at every stage.
A published work is one that has been made publicly available to the audience of a qualifying publication. To meet this standard, both the news source and the journalist must demonstrate no vested interest in the initiative featured in the story. While the publication may focus on a particular issue area, its coverage should remain independent — avoiding any alignment with special interests or promotional intent for a specific product, approach or affiliated organization. Paid or sponsored content does not qualify.
The winners will be announced in late spring/early summer 2026.
Entries must be in English. Each entry must be submitted as it appeared when published. Subtitled works are acceptable if published this way.
The prize money is given directly to the reporter who authored/created the winning piece. If there are multiple authors/creators on a single winning entry, the prize money will be divided among them.
Elana Luppino at elana@solutionsjournalism.org
