Categories

1 - Science and 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 and 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 - Impact 2023: Israel-Hamas War

A single news photograph from the Israel-Hamas War or related events around the world, such as protests and rallies.

5 – Spot News

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

6 - Daily Life

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

7 - 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.

8 - 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.

9 - 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.

10 - Issue Reporting Picture Story

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

11 - 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.

12 - 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 in a media organization or the photographer’s primary geographic market. In other words, a hometown story. 10 photographs maximum per story.

13 - Impact 2023: Israel-Hamas War Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on coverage of the Israel-Hamas War or related events around the world. The story may focus on news or impact on daily life. 10 photographs maximum per story.

14 - 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 that consists of images taken as part of a team effort to cover a single issue or news story. Entries are limited to one story per news organization. 20 images maximum.

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. We do not accept entries in which the subject is also the employer or restricted access was granted only to photographers hired by the organizing agency. For example, a team photographer cannot enter images of the team that employs them. Photographs must be taken during 2023.

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. We do not accept entries in which the subject is also the employer or restricted access was granted only to photographers hired by the organizing agency. For example, a team photographer cannot enter images of the team that employs them. Photographs must be taken during 2023.

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. We do not accept entries in which the subject is also the employer or restricted access was granted only to photographers hired by the organizing agency. For example, a team photographer cannot enter images of the team that employs them. 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 daily life story presented on an online platform It may be based on coverage of an issue, everyday human experience, or a cultural trend.

Stories presented with multiple chapters or as a series should be entered in Online Storytelling Project of the Year.

Projects must have been either shot, produced, or published for the first time in 2023.

Submit a .jpg thumbnail and an active URL link for each story. Include required usernames and passwords.

Web pages that present only a single video should be submitted in the documentary categories.

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

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.

Stories presented with multiple chapters or as a series should be entered in Online Storytelling Project of the Year.

Projects must have been either shot, produced, or published for the first time in 2023.

Submit a .jpg thumbnail and an active URL link for each story. Include required usernames and passwords.

Web pages that present a single video should be entered in the documentary categories.

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

23 - Online Storytelling Project of the Year

This premier category is open to teams or individuals. It appraises 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.

Submit a .jpg thumbnail and an active URL link for each story. Include required usernames and passwords.

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. All stories must be published in 2023.

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. All stories must be published in 2023.

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.

Stories may be entered only once and attributed to a single editor. The same story cannot be entered by two people.

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. Newspaper, magazine, and online visual editors may enter this category. The portfolio should represent the work of an individual who served as the lead editor on a story or package.

Stories may be entered only once and attributed to a single editor. The same story cannot be entered by two people. All stories must be published in 2023.

An editing portfolio may consist of content published on online and print platforms. 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.

If needed, include an active URL link and 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 entered 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.

A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). 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.

Single images may be included, but they are not required. Place any single image at the beginning of the portfolio. 50 images maximum (not including black slides).

Photographers may only submit one portfolio into one portfolio category.

28 - Photographer of the Year

This premier category is open to all photographers -- 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.

Only one national or international story is allowed. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). Create a title slide (white text, black background) for each story. Place the slide it at the start of each story.

Single images are not required. If you include single images, place them at the beginning of the portfolio.

Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the title and description. 50 photographs maximum (not including the black slides).

If the portfolio consists mostly of national or international stories from outside the photographer’s primary geographic market, then enter in the category #27: International Photographer of the Year.

A portfolio may be submitted once, into either 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 2023. 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 a title and description. Place the slide it at the start of each story.

Photographers may include sports photographs as part of a news portfolio in the Photographer of the Year categories #27 or #28.

30 - Documentary Storyteller of the Year

Stories must have been first published or broadcasted during 2023. 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). The stories may be produced and edited by additional people. Animated stories are not eligible.

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, include an active URL and 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. Winning entries from previous years are not allowed.

Unpublished stories are allowed. If the story has not been published, then at least 60% of the images should have been created in 2023.

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, they should not make up a majority of the project.

Single images and picture stories from this category may be entered in Science and 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 2023.

32 - Community Awareness Award

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

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

Submit a maximum of 40 images. If the story has not been published, then at least 60% of the images must have been created in 2023. Unpublished stories are allowed.

Winning entries from previous years are not allowed.

Portions of the essay may be entered as a picture story and as part of a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or first published in 2023.

33 - World Understanding Award

This Premier category recognizes a photographer’s long-term project that focuses on the human condition, 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.

Submit a maximum of 40 images. Unpublished stories are allowed.

There are no time restrictions. Photos need not have been taken during 2023.

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

Images from this category be entered in single or picture story categories only if the photos were created in 2023.

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.

One portfolio is allowed per organization. All stories must have been published in 2023.

This category is open to all news organizations, media groups, newspapers, magazines, or specialty advocacy organizations.

Include up to 10 stories, which may be print or online versions. A converged print-and-online version counts as one story.

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.

The print story may consist of one or more (.jpg) pages from up to five consecutive issues covering a single news topic.

The online story may include web pages, apps, or other platforms. Submit a single, active URL link for each story. Include required usernames and passwords.

35 - 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 (2021, 2022, or 2023). 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 jpg images of the book via 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:
Lynden Steele
Pictures of the Year International
Reynolds Journalism Institute
Missouri School of Journalism
401 S. Ninth St., Suite 315
Columbia, MO 65211
USA
+1-573-884-7351

NOTE: It is not necessary that the book entry arrive by the contest deadline, Jan. 14, 2024. The shipment should be post marked on or before Jan. 14. Standard shipping with any courier such as FedEx, DSL, UPS, or postal mail is sufficient.