Director's Choice: Pictures of the Year International occasionally recognizes meritorious coverage by visual journalists of significant news events or social issues from the past year. POY exercises this prerogative after judging has concluded and the acknowledgement is independent of the jury's decisions. Pictures of the Year International is proud to serve its educational mission.
A Sheriff's department search helicopter flies over the debris field caused by the massive landslide above the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River outside Oso, west of Darrington, Wash., on Monday, March 31, 2014.