POY80 Categories

There are 36 categories honoring work from 2022. In addition to the category descriptions, there is a thorough listing of criteria at the bottom of the list. The following key points apply to all entries.

Photographs entered must have been taken or published for the first time between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Entries should be true representations of a news scene or candid moment. Documentary photographs cannot be posed, set up or staged. Portraits may be posed.

POY follows the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics. All captions and story summaries should meet journalistic standards for accuracy and publication requirements. Link to code of ethics: https://nppa.org/code-ethics

First-time publication is defined as being published by a media organization in print or online. Personal web sites or social media accounts do not qualify.

After uploading your Images, please refresh the page to see your image metadata.

1 - Science & Natural History

A single photograph that increases the understanding and appreciation of science or the natural world. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible.

2 - Science & Natural History Picture Story

A narrative picture story, essay, sequence, or series that increases the understanding and appreciation for science or the natural world. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible. 10 photographs maximum per entry.

3 - General News

A single photograph of a news event or social issue for which planning was possible.

4 - Spot News

A single photograph of a breaking news event for which no planning was possible.

5 - Daily Life

A single photograph, candid and un-posed, that reflects the human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important.

6 - Portrait

A single photograph that reflects a strong sense of a person’s identity or narrative. Respect for the dignity of the person is important.

7 - Portrait Series

A series of photographs that reflects a strong sense of identity or narrative. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. 10 photographs maximum per entry.

8 - National/International News Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on daily coverage of general or breaking news that is of primary interest to an entire nation or the world. It is usually created with the intent to share nationally or internationally. 10 photographs maximum per story.

9 - Issue Reporting Picture Story

A narrative picture story that explores an important social, economic, or political issue. 10 photographs maximum per story.

10 - Daily Life Picture Story

A narrative picture story that reflects the everyday human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. 10 photographs maximum per story.

11 - Local News Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on daily coverage of general or breaking news that is of primary interest to the local audience from a media organization or the photographer’s primary geographic market. In other words, a hometown story. 10 photographs maximum per story.

12 - War in Ukraine: News

A single photograph of a breaking or general news event related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

13 - War in Ukraine: Daily Life

A single photograph, candid and un-posed, that reflects the perseverance of daily life amid the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Respect for the dignity of the person is important.

14 – War in Ukraine: Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on coverage of events during the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The story could focus on news or daily life. 10 photographs maximum per story.

15 - Sports Action

A single photograph that captures peak action of an individual or team sport. Jubilation, dejection, or reaction images should be entered in the Sports Life and Recreational Sports category. Photographs must be taken during 2022.

16 - Sports Life and Recreational Sports

A single photograph that celebrates the role sports play in a community. Image may show the emotional highlights of players on the field or the reactions of fans. The sport may be a professional, amateur or intramural competition. Photographs must be taken during 2022.

17 - Sports Picture Story

A narrative picture story that increases the understanding of the role that athletics play in the lives of athletes and their community. The story may focus on sports as a catalyst of change in gender, race, political, and cultural issues. It may feature professional or amateur athletes, fans, families, or any aspect of a community that is changed by its relationship to sports. 10 photographs maximum per story.

18 - Documentary News Reporting (video)

A single video story based on coverage of general or breaking news. It may be an essay that explores a social, economic, or political issue (flexible length — up to about 15 minutes). Longer stories should be entered in “Documentary Journalism.” Include a thumbnail image and URL.

19 - Documentary Daily Life (video)

A single video story that reflects the human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. (flexible length — up to about 15 minutes). Longer stories should be entered in “Documentary Journalism.” Include a thumbnail image and URL.

20 - Documentary Journalism (video)

This premiere category recognizes excellence longform Documentary Journalism. This is a single video story the focuses on news, a social issue or cultural trend. Do not enter shorter versions of the same story in other categories. This may be a team entry (approximately 20-45 minutes). Include a thumbnail image and URL.

21 - Online Storytelling: Daily Life

A single story presented on an online platform. It may be based on coverage of an issue, everyday human experience, or a cultural trend. If required, include username and password.

22 - Online Storytelling: News Reporting

A single news story presented on an online platform. It may be based on coverage of an issue or daily news. If required, include username and password.

23 - Online Storytelling Project of the Year

This premier category is open to teams or individuals. It is intended to appraise in-depth visual online journalism that explores a social, economic, or political issue through a special report, series, or presentation with multiple chapters. There is no length limitation. If required, include username and password.

24 - Newspaper Picture Editing

A single published story from the coverage of an issue, daily life, or news in a general circulation newspaper. It may include one or more pages from up to 5 consecutive issues.

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files. This is a 1-click process in Adobe Bridge: File-Export to-Save as jpgs.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

25 - Magazine Picture Editing

A single published story from the coverage of daily life, news or a social issue in a magazine or specialty publication.

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files. This is a 1-click process in Adobe Bridge: File-Export to-Save as jpgs.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

26 - Visual Editor of the Year

This premiere category awards editing excellence to one person. The portfolio should represent the work of an individual who served as the lead editor on a story or package.

Newspaper, magazine, and online visual editors may enter this category. Individual stories may be entered only once and attributed to a single editor.

An editing portfolio may consist of content published on multiple platforms, from apps to online stories and print publications. A portfolio entry may present up to 10 stories, either in print or online. A converged print-and-online version of a specific story will count as one story. The print version of a story may include one or more pages (.jpg files).

Please include required usernames and passwords.

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files. This is a 1-click process in Adobe Bridge: File-Export to-Save as jpgs.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

Team entries should be submitted in the "Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award.”

27 – International Photographer of the Year

This premier category is open to all photographers — independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers.

The work should be of primary interest to a nation or the world, usually created with the intent to share nationally or internationally. Newspaper photographers who cover national or international stories should enter portfolios in this category.

Create a title slide (white text, black background) to separate the stories. Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the title and description. Place the slide at the start of each story.

A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). Single images may be included but are not required. 50 images maximum (not including black slides).

Photographers may submit a portfolio into either portfolio category, #27 or #28, but not both.

28 – Local Photographer of the Year

This premier category is open to all photojournalists -- independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. The spirit of this category is to honor a photographer who documents their own community. At least 60% of their portfolio must consist of local or regional coverage from their home or organization’s primary geographic market.

If the portfolio consists mostly of national or international stories from outside the organization's primary geographic market, then enter in the category: International Photographer of the Year.

Create a title slide (white text, black background) for each story. Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the title and description. Place the slide it at the start of each story.

Only one national or international story is allowed. Single images may be included but are not required. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). 50 photographs maximum (not including the black slides).

Photographers may submit a portfolio into either portfolio category, #27 or #28, but not both.

29 - Sports Photographer of the Year

This premier category is open to all photographers — independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. A portfolio should include single pictures and at least one narrative picture story. Stories are not limited to 10 images.

All single photographs must be taken during 2022. Submit a maximum of 30 photographs. At least three different sports should be represented.

Create a title slide (white text, black background) for each story. Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the title and description. Place the slide it at the start of each story.

Entrants may also enter Photographer of the Year category #27 or #28.

30 - Documentary Storyteller of the Year

Stories must have been first published or broadcasted during 2022. A portfolio should include 3-5 stories. Each story may have a run time up to about 15 minutes.

The portfolio must be the principal work of an individual photojournalist who shot most of the content (video and/or still photographs). Stories in the portfolio may be produced and edited by additional people.

A portfolio may be a mix of linear (video) stories and non-linear (user experience) online stories. Entries from the Online Storytelling categories may be included. If required, submit the username and password.

31 - Environmental Vision Award

This premier category recognizes a photographer’s long-term story, project, or essay that explores issues related to the environment, natural history, or science. This could include a facet of human impact on the natural world, scientific discovery, coverage of plant or animal habitat, climate concerns, or similar topics.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images). Entries that are comprised primarily of images made in previous years, must have been published for the first time in 2022.

Entries need not have been published. If the story has not been published, then at least 60% of the images should have been created in 2022.

Winning entries from previous years are not allowed.

This is not a category for coverage of human medical issues or natural disasters unless they are a proven result of environmental impact. The project may include a few studio scenes; however, the studio scenes should not make up the majority of images in the project.

Single images and picture stories from this category are encouraged to be entered in Science/Natural History categories #1 and #2. Images may also be part of a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or published for the first time in 2022.

32 - Community Awareness Award

This Premier category recognizes a photographer’s extended story or essay about the everyday life of the people who make up a community. The purpose is to encourage attention to the small events in life that are often overshadowed by the news of the day and to celebrate those images that reflect the work and dreams of humankind.

A “community” may be defined as a neighborhood, a town, a small commune, a rural agricultural area, a city subdivision, or socioeconomic region.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images). Entries need not have been published. Winning entries from previous years are not allowed. At least 60% of the photos must have been taken during 2022.

Portions of the essay may be part of a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or first published in 2022.

33 - World Understanding Award

This Premier category recognizes a photographer’s long-term story, project, or essay that focuses on the human condition and portrays a sense of justice or insight into difficult problems. This may include a facet of human relations, a mutual concern for world conflict, social injustice, or any number of other topics. The project may include a few portraits; however, the portraits should not comprise a majority of images within the project.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images). Entries need not have been published. There are no subject requirements.

There are no time restrictions. Photos need not have been taken during 2022.

Winning entries from previous years may not be resubmitted. Previous World Understanding entries may not be resubmitted for five years.

Portions of the essay may not be entered in single or picture story categories. However, portions may be included the Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or first published in 2022.

34 - Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award

*All files must be .jpg format

The spirit of this category is to recognize the best in visual editing by a media organization across all platforms. Judges will recognize excellence in use of photojournalism, video, interactive design, user experience, and multimedia storytelling.

Only one portfolio entry per organization is allowed. Include up to 10 individual stories. The stories may be a print or online version or a converged print-and-online version of a single topic. All stories must be published in 2022.

This category is open to all news organizations, media groups, newspapers, magazines, or specialty advocacy organizations. Personal portfolios, publications or websites are not allowed. Business promotions, catalogs, branded content or stories in which the funding organization is also the primary subject are not allowed.

A portfolio may consist of online and print publication stories. Editing should demonstrate sensitivity for the selection and organization of documentary photography. Design should reflect consideration for the reader and respect for the vision of the photographer.

The print version of a story may be composed of one or more (.jpg) pages, from no more than five consecutive issues on the coverage of a single topic. The online version of a story may include web pages, apps, mobile-optimized websites, or other platforms.

Submit a single URL link for each online story. Make sure the online links are active and the required usernames and passwords are included.

35 - Team Picture Story of the Year

This premiere category recognizes the collaborative effort of a photography staff covering a single topic or news story. It is a narrative picture story or series that is comprised of images taken as part of a team or staff effort to cover a single issue or news story. Entries are limited to one entry per news organization. 20 images maximum per story.

36 - Photography Book of the Year

This category recognizes the best documentary visual storytelling in a book.

Book entries must rely on documentary photography and have been published within the last three years (2020, 2021, or 2022). Previous entries are not eligible.

Photographs may be the work of one or more photographers. The photographer and the publishing house should coordinate to avoid duplicate entries.

Submit 1-10 thumbnail images of the book to Picter (include the cover) and mail a physical copy by courier (FedEx, DSL, UPS, or postal mail). Include a note with your name and the publisher.

Ship the book to:
Pictures of the Year International
Missouri School of Journalism
109 Lee Hills Hall
Columbia, MO 65211

NOTE: It is not necessary that the book entry arrive by the contest deadline, Jan. 18, 2022. The shipment should be post marked on or before Jan. 18. Standard shipping with any courier such as FedEx, DSL, UPS, or postal mail is sufficient.

Documentary Criteria (Categories 18, 19, 20, 30)

The term “documentary” is defined as a non-fiction, video narrative, relying on visual evidence to report real situations or events involving real subjects. The photographer should follow the concepts of observational and direct cinema techniques.

All documentary entries should adhere to strict journalistic ethics. The content should represent the news, issues, or cultural trends of the past calendar year. Documentaries entered previously are not eligible.

Documentaries must be published online or shared publicly via broadcast or festivals during 2022. However, the entry may include content shot in previous years.

The entries should be presented in a linear format, edited in a timeline sequence, and presented in a web-based video player. In other words, the viewer clicks "play”, and the story runs from start to finish. Do not upload video files.

Not allowed are fictional stories, staged reenactments, docu-dramas, or television news reports where an anchor person tells the story. Stories that feature business promotions, branded content, personal portfolios, or the funding organization as primary subjects are forbidden.

For each entry, submit a thumbnail image and a single URL link. Make sure the links are active. If password access is required, please include a password and username.

Each documentary can be entered as a single entry and as part of a portfolio for Documentary Storyteller of the Year. Multiple-chaptered stories or projects should be entered in the category Online Storytelling Project of the Year, but it can include a documentary as part of the entry.

Online Storytelling Criteria (Categories 21, 22, 23)

The intent of these categories is to recognize excellent visual editing in multiple-chaptered stories or projects on an online platform, primarily websites.

Open to all — teams or individuals, either independent or affiliated with media organizations such as newspapers, magazines, photo agencies, media companies, NGOs, or specialty advocacy organizations.

Projects must have been either shot, produced, or published for the first time in 2022.

Portfolios, business promotions, agency catalogs, or personal websites are not eligible. Also, not eligible are stories that include the funding organization as the primary subject.

If a story is published across multiple platforms, choose the one platform that best represents that specific story. Updated versions of the originally posted story are acceptable.

For websites, provide a single URL link to the relevant page along with the required usernames and passwords. Web pages that present only a single video should be submitted in the documentary categories.

Picture Editing Criteria (Categories 24, 25, 26)

These categories are intended to appraise visual storytelling in the printed pages through the effective use of photojournalism, captions, headlines, and other display typography. Entries include the print version of a single story and may include up to five consecutive issues.

Open to all — teams or individuals, either independent or affiliated with media organizations such as newspapers, magazines, or specialty advocacy organizations. Portfolios, business promotions, catalogs, or personal publications are not eligible. Also, not eligible are stories that include the funding organization as the primary subject or narrative.

Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files. Submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

A story may be submitted only once. All stories must be published in 2022.

A maximum of 15 submissions can be entered in any combination of categories.

A single submission is one entry, one project or one portfolio. It is defined as:

• One picture in a single-picture category.
• One picture story (5-10 photographs).
• One project (12-40 photographs) in the premiere categories (10-20 images for cat. 34)
• One portfolio in the Angus McDougal Excellence in Editing, Documentary Storyteller, Photographer or Visual Editor of the Year categories.

File Specifications

File naming

Your files are automatically renamed when you submit. It is not necessary to rename your files.

Entry specifications

File type: .JPG
Image Size: 3,000 pixels minimum on the longer side.
Resolution: 300 dpi, minimum.

Print editing entries

WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT PDF FILES. PLEASE CONVERT TO JPG FILES

Please submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

Picture story sequence

The order or sequence of images you create will be preserved. You can change the sequence after you upload the images. POY staff cannot change the order of the pictures.

For the portfolio categories #27, #28 and #29, create a title slide (white text, black background). Put the title and story summary in the IPTC title and caption fields. Place the slide at the beginning of each story.

Video and URL entries

Submit a thumbnail image and a single URL via an active link.

Do not upload video files.

Include required usernames and passwords.

Required IPTC fields:

• Document Title is the image title
• Author is the photographer's name
• Description is the caption
• Location Information include city (or nearest city), state/province, country
• Capture Date verify the date. Images outside eligible dates range may be rejected.

POY Entry Standards and Ethicss

Photographs entered must have been taken or published for the first time between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Entries should be true representations of a news scene or candid moment. Documentary photographs cannot be posed, set up or staged. Portraits may be posed.

POY follows the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics. All captions and story summaries should meet journalistic standards for accuracy and publication requirements. Link to code of ethics: https://nppa.org/code-ethics

First-time publication is defined as being published by a media organization in print or online. Personal web sites or social media accounts do not qualify.

ENTRY TIP! Heavily edited images turn off judges. Color images should replicate what the human eye experiences. Flagrant pre- or post-production effects that use excessive tonal aberrations, textures, vignettes, color saturation or other manipulations may be disqualified.

POY accepts two photographic modes: color and black & white. Black & white images should be bi-tonal and display a full grayscale range of 256 intensities from black to white. Black & white image files that artificially impose a color shift, such as sepia or cyan tones, may be disqualified.

Entries must not be digitally manipulated or altered through post-production processing. Routine post-production processing of images for exposure correction, white balance and color toning is acceptable. Adding, altering, or removing elements is not permitted. Excessive saturation or desaturation is also not allowed.

Photos from smartphone cameras are eligible. However, the use of software capture filters that apply excessive tonal aberrations, textures, vignettes, or other artistic manipulations will be disqualified.

Diptychs and triptychs are not eligible. Digitally manufactured photo illustrations, double exposures, in-camera multiple exposures, added masks, borders, backgrounds, text, handwritten notes, or other artistic effects are all prohibited.

Film edges are allowed if the original photograph was shot on film (negative or transparency), or Polaroid and the border is the true nature of the medium.

All photographs entered in the still photography categories must be taken by a single photographer.

Picture Captions

ENTRY TIP! Captions are read in the final rounds of each category. Well-written captions with relevant details strengthen your entry and stand apart from entries with weak captions.

Each photograph must include a caption embedded in the .jpg file's IPTC metadata description field that meets journalistic standards for accuracy and ready-for-publication requirements.

Please verify that capture dates are correct, so you remain eligible. Each caption should include a date, or an approximation of the date. For example, “The photo was taken on Feb. 4, 2022,” or “The photo was taken in February 2022.”

Captions that are inaccurate or falsely represent the picture content may be disqualified.

Do not include your name in the caption.

IPTC data may be embedded into images using Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, Lightroom, Bridge and other image editing programs. Picter will automatically display the data.

Picture Submissions

POY staff reviews every entry in advance of judging. We will contact photographers whose images seem to conflict with these standards and provide them with the opportunity to resubmit the photograph before judging begins. Once judging begins, judges have the discretion to disqualify entries that they think over manipulate the image.

ENTRY TIP! Judges often review the category rules when looking at images. Consider your category decisions carefully. Judges cannot move entries.

A single photograph may be submitted only once among the single-picture categories.

A single photograph may be entered as a single photograph and included as part of one picture story.

A picture story consists of 5–10 photos and counts as one entry. Do not re-edit photos from the same story and then submit it as a different story.

Images submitted into single-photo categories cannot be copies, scans, or a photograph of other photographs or documents. A photograph of a photograph can serve as a detail image in a larger picture story or project, but they may not comprise a majority of the story.

POY will request the original RAW or JPG image files from a random selection of photographs voted to final places by the jury, plus any images that the jury members or POY staff request. POY will examine and verify each of these selected files for authenticity. Any photographs that do not meet these standards will be disqualified.

ENTRY TIP! Picture Story entries should have a clearly defined structure with each image contributing unique information. In the final rounds, the judges often focus on the quality of the edit. Eliminate weak and redundant images.

Portfolio Submissions

All premier categories are open to everyone.

For portfolio categories, create a title slide (white text on black background). It is important to include the story title and story description in the IPTC document title and caption fields of the slide. Place the slide at the beginning of each story.

ENTRY TIP! Be mindful that the title slide provides important context for the jury. Keep it short!

Picture stories in portfolios are not limited to 10 images.

All photographs must include captions. You are encouraged to use the caption field to expand on story details as they pertain to the individual image.

The majority of photos in the portfolio must have been taken during 2022 or the entire project must have been first published in 2022 (Exception: World Understanding Award has no time restrictions).

Single images within a portfolio should not be repeated in a picture story in the same portfolio.

POY staff will not separate a portfolio and enter the images into individual categories. If you want to enter work from your portfolio into single or picture story categories, you must upload separate entries into those categories.

COPYRIGHTS & USAGE STATEMENT

By entering this competition, you declare that you meet the eligibility requirements stated in the rules of the competition and that you are authorized by the holder of the copyright (or the right to copyright) to submit photos and multimedia entries to the Pictures of the Year International (POY, POYi) competition. You grant permission to Pictures of the Year International, the Reynolds Journalism Institute and the Missouri School of Journalism and POY programs (such as POY Asia, POY Latam and the POY Archive) to use your submitted material in exhibitions, publications, in promotion of the competition itself, and for educational research and historical record purposes concerning Pictures of the Year International. This usage includes, but is not limited to print, electronic and online platforms such as the CPOY, POY or MU websites, social media, books, slides/tapes, television broadcast/film/tapes, DVDs and CDs. Entries may become part of the permanent POY archive.

Pictures of the Year International is a program of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The University of Missouri is a public, tax-exempt educational institution of the State of Missouri. POY provides an educational mission for career development and student advancement, without profit. To achieve the educational mission of the competition, POY requests $50 (U.S. dollars) compensation from participants to cover the costs associated with operation of the competition.