Hearst Journalism Awards 2026–2027: How to Apply

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program 2026–2027 is a prestigious journalism competition that recognises outstanding undergraduate journalism students from accredited universities across the United States. Organised by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the programme provides financial awards to talented student journalists who demonstrate excellence in reporting, writing, photography, broadcasting, audio production and multimedia storytelling.

Often described as one of the major journalism competitions for college students in the United States, the programme gives participants an opportunity to showcase their journalistic abilities, receive recognition and compete for substantial scholarship awards.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the programme features 14 competitions covering different areas of journalism, including feature writing, sports writing, investigative reporting, photojournalism, television, audio, podcasting and multimedia.

The programme also offers opportunities for outstanding competitors to qualify for national championship events, where additional scholarship awards are available.

However, the Hearst Journalism Awards Program is not a conventional international scholarship. Participation is restricted to eligible undergraduate students attending accredited journalism programmes at qualifying universities in the United States. Nigerian students studying at universities in Nigeria are therefore generally not eligible.

This guide explains the Hearst Journalism Awards Program 2026–2027, including its benefits, eligibility requirements, competition categories, application procedures, deadlines and official application links.

About the Hearst Journalism Awards Program

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was established in 1960 by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to support journalism education at colleges and universities.

The programme aims to encourage excellence in journalism by providing financial assistance, professional recognition and opportunities for undergraduate students to demonstrate their reporting and storytelling abilities.

Unlike traditional scholarships that assess applicants mainly through academic grades, the Hearst Journalism Awards Program evaluates actual journalistic work.

Students participate by submitting previously published, broadcast or posted journalism projects through their university’s journalism department.

The competition covers several areas of journalism, allowing students with different media skills to demonstrate their abilities.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the programme includes:

• Four writing competitions.

• Two photojournalism competitions.

• One audio competition.

• One podcast competition.

• Two television competitions.

• Four multimedia competitions.

The programme is administered by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and provides scholarship awards to successful participants, with additional financial support for participating universities.

The 66th annual competition concluded in June 2026, and the 2026–2027 programme represents the 67th competition year.

Hearst Journalism Awards Program 2026–2027 Benefits

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program provides financial rewards and professional recognition to students who demonstrate exceptional journalism skills.

The major benefits include:

1. Scholarship Awards

Students who perform exceptionally well in the monthly competitions receive financial awards.

For the 2026–2027 competition year, the Hearst Foundations announced increased scholarship funding for participating students.

According to the programme’s updated information, awards in individual monthly competitions range from $5,000 for first place to $1,000 for fifth place.

2. Additional Championship Awards

Students who qualify for the National Championships have an opportunity to compete for additional scholarship awards.

The championship offers further financial recognition, with additional awards reaching up to $15,000.

3. Professional Recognition

Winning or placing in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program provides recognition for students interested in pursuing professional journalism careers.

It also gives participants an opportunity to demonstrate their reporting, writing, photography and multimedia production abilities.

4. Journalism Career Development

The competition encourages students to develop practical skills in journalism, including:

• Investigative reporting.

• News writing.

• Feature storytelling.

• Photography.

• Audio production.

• Video journalism.

• Multimedia storytelling.

• Research and fact-checking.

5. Financial Support for Universities

The programme also provides matching grants to participating journalism schools.

These awards help support journalism education and encourage universities to continue developing talented student journalists.

6. National Championship Experience

Outstanding participants may qualify for the National Championships, where selected students compete through additional journalism assignments and receive further recognition.

The 2026–2027 programme has announced increased awards for students and participating universities.

Hearst Journalism Awards Program Eligibility Requirements

Before participating, students must understand that the Hearst Journalism Awards Program has specific academic and institutional requirements.

The programme is open to undergraduate students enrolled in eligible journalism programmes at accredited universities in the United States and its territories.

The main eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants must be undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible university.

• Students entering writing, audio, podcast, television and multimedia competitions must be journalism majors or minors.

• Applicants must attend a university with an accredited journalism programme recognised by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

• Students entering photojournalism competitions do not need to be journalism majors or minors.

• Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time.

• Entries must be original journalistic work published, broadcast or posted while the student was an undergraduate.

• Students must be actively involved in campus media or other qualifying journalism activities.

• Applicants must have no more than one year of full-time professional journalism experience, or its equivalent, when their work was published.

• Students may participate in the competition for no more than three contest years.

The programme also permits certain recent graduates to submit qualifying work produced before graduation, subject to the official rules.

Can Nigerian Students Apply for the Hearst Journalism Awards Program?

Nigerian students interested in international journalism scholarships should pay particular attention to the programme’s geographical restrictions.

Students attending universities in Nigeria are generally not eligible for the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

The competition is restricted to students attending qualifying accredited undergraduate journalism programmes at universities in the United States or its possessions.

However, Nigerian citizens studying at eligible US universities may qualify if they satisfy the academic, enrolment and competition requirements.

Students participating in an authorised international study-abroad programme may also remain eligible if they receive academic credit from their qualifying home university and meet the other requirements.

Therefore, Nigerian applicants should confirm their university’s accreditation and participation status before preparing an entry.

Hearst Journalism Awards Competition Categories

The 2026–2027 programme features 14 competitions across six major journalism disciplines.

Each category provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate specific journalistic skills.

1. Writing Competitions

The writing division recognises outstanding journalism articles published in print or online.

The four competitions are:

• Feature Writing: Recognises creative, engaging and well-researched feature articles.

• Sports Writing: Accepts sports news, feature stories and commentary relating to sporting events or issues.

• Personality/Profile Writing: Recognises well-developed profiles and personality stories about individuals.

• Investigative Reporting: Recognises substantial investigative journalism produced individually or by a team.

2. Photojournalism Competitions

The photojournalism division recognises students who demonstrate outstanding visual storytelling skills.

Its two categories include:

• News and Features: Photography covering important news events and feature subjects.

• Picture Story/Series: A collection of photographs that communicates a compelling story.

3. Audio Competition

The audio category recognises outstanding audio journalism covering news and feature subjects.

Students submit audio productions that demonstrate strong reporting, storytelling and presentation.

4. Podcast Competition

The podcast category accepts individual or team journalism productions.

Entries may cover news or feature subjects and should demonstrate originality, accurate reporting and effective audio storytelling.

5. Television Competitions

The television division includes:

• Television Features.

• Television News.

These competitions recognise students who produce high-quality broadcast journalism.

6. Multimedia Competitions

The multimedia division recognises innovative digital journalism and storytelling.

Its four categories are:

• Narrative Video Storytelling.

• Innovative Journalism.

• Enterprise Story – Individual.

• Enterprise Story – Team.

Students should select the category that best matches their submitted work and carefully review its individual requirements.

Required Documents and Materials

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program focuses on evaluating completed journalistic work rather than conventional scholarship documents.

Applicants should prepare the following materials, depending on their competition category.

1. Original Journalism Entry

Students must submit the article, photographs, audio production, video, podcast or multimedia project they wish to enter.

The work must meet the relevant category requirements.

2. Publication or Broadcast Information

Applicants must provide details showing when and where their work was published, broadcast or posted.

The submission must fall within the specified competition period.

3. University Verification

The participating university must confirm that the applicant meets the relevant academic and eligibility requirements.

4. Supporting Documentation

Some entries require additional explanations or supporting materials.

For example, investigative reporting submissions must include a brief description of the reporting process, including access to information, significant challenges and relevant AI use.

Entries published in professional media may also require an editor’s letter confirming that the work was primarily produced by the student with minimal editing.

5. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

All entries must clearly disclose the use of artificial intelligence tools in creating or developing the submitted work.

This includes AI-assisted research, reporting, editing, image creation, video production and story presentation.

Applicants should follow the programme’s AI transparency requirements.

Important: The university administrator handles the official competition submission. Students should contact their journalism department for the specific materials and instructions required for their chosen category.

How to Apply for the Hearst Journalism Awards Program 2026–2027

Unlike many scholarship programmes, students cannot simply submit an independent application directly to the foundation.

Their university must select and submit eligible entries through the official competition system.

Follow these steps to participate.

Step 1: Confirm Your University’s Eligibility

Check whether your university has an undergraduate journalism programme accredited by ACEJMC.

Only eligible participating institutions can submit entries.

Step 2: Contact Your Journalism Department

Speak with your journalism department administrator, faculty adviser or programme coordinator.

Ask whether your university is participating in the 2026–2027 Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Step 3: Select Your Competition Category

Review the available competitions and identify the category that matches your journalistic work.

For example, students with published feature articles may consider Feature Writing, while students with original news photography may consider Photojournalism.

Step 4: Prepare Your Journalism Entry

Gather your published article, photographs, audio production, television report or multimedia project.

Ensure that the entry meets the relevant publication dates, originality requirements and category guidelines.

Step 5: Submit Your Work to Your University

Provide your work and supporting information to the university administrator responsible for the competition.

Each university may submit up to two individual student entries per competition, subject to the specific rules for team categories.

Step 6: University Submission

The university selects the eligible students and submits their entries through the official Hearst Journalism Awards online system.

The programme office provides participating institutions with the necessary login information.

Step 7: Wait for the Competition Results

Submitted entries are reviewed by professional journalism judges.

Students who perform exceptionally well may receive scholarship awards and qualify for the National Championships.

Official competition portal: Hearst Journalism Awards 2026–2027

Students should remember that the online portal does not replace the university selection process. Contact your journalism department before attempting to submit an entry independently.

Hearst Journalism Awards Program 2026–2027 Deadlines

The programme operates through separate monthly competitions, meaning there is no single application deadline for all categories.

Each competition has its own closing date.

The official 2026–2027 calendar includes the following deadlines:

Source: Official Hearst Journalism Awards 2026–2027 calendar.

The first competition deadline, Feature Writing, is November 3, 2026.

Students should contact their university well before the relevant deadline because the institution must select and submit the entries.

The National Championship schedule for 2027 is yet to be announced on the official calendar.

Hearst Journalism Awards Selection Process

The programme uses a professional judging process to identify students who demonstrate outstanding journalism skills.

Entries are evaluated by experienced journalists and editors who assess the quality of the submitted work.

The selection process generally involves the following stages.

1. University Selection

Participating universities select eligible students whose work will represent their institutions.

Each university may submit up to two individual entries per competition, subject to the rules for team competitions.

2. Submission Review

The submitted journalism work is reviewed to ensure it meets the competition’s requirements.

Entries must satisfy the relevant publication dates, category rules and originality standards.

3. Professional Judging

Professional journalists and editors evaluate the submissions.

Judging considerations include:

• Quality of writing and reporting.

• Originality and creativity.

• Accuracy and depth of research.

• Clarity and organisation.

• Storytelling and presentation.

• Understanding of the subject.

4. Monthly Competition Winners

Students who achieve the highest scores receive scholarship awards.

The top five positions in each monthly competition are eligible for financial recognition.

5. National Championship Selection

Outstanding competitors from the monthly competitions may qualify for the National Championships.

The championship brings together selected student journalists for additional assignments and further scholarship awards.

The exact qualification rules differ across writing, photography, audio, television and multimedia categories.

Hearst Journalism Awards Scholarship Payment

One important detail applicants should understand is how the scholarship money is distributed.

Unlike some scholarships that send funds directly to students, Hearst Journalism Awards scholarship funds are sent to the winning students’ accredited universities.

The universities are instructed to use the funds for eligible educational expenses, including:

• Tuition fees.

• Matriculation fees.

• Other university-approved fees.

• University-provided or approved accommodation and meals.

The programme also provides matching grants to participating universities.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the foundation has announced increased scholarship awards, including monthly competition prizes ranging from $5,000 for first place to $1,000 for fifth place.

Additional National Championship awards can reach $15,000.

Important Things Applicants Should Know

Before participating, students should understand the following conditions:

University participation is compulsory: Students cannot independently enter without their university’s involvement.

Accreditation matters: The institution must have an eligible ACEJMC-accredited journalism programme.

Published work is required: The programme evaluates journalism that has already been published, broadcast or posted.

Entries must be original: Students cannot submit the same work more than once.

AI use must be disclosed: Applicants must transparently explain relevant AI assistance used in producing their entries.

Professional experience is restricted: Students with one year or more of full-time professional journalism experience, or its equivalent, when their work was published are not eligible.

International study-abroad students may qualify: Students studying abroad through an authorised programme may remain eligible if they meet the other requirements.

Scholarship payments go through universities: Awards are administered through the participating educational institutions rather than paid directly to students.

Official Application Links and Contact Information

Students interested in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program should use the official resources below.

• Official website: Hearst Journalism Awards Program

• 2026–2027 application portal: Start Application

• Official eligibility rules: Hearst Programme Rules

• Competition deadlines: 2026–2027 Competition Calendar

• Frequently asked questions: Hearst Journalism Awards FAQs

• Writing competition requirements: Writing Guidelines

Programme contact:

• Programme Director: Jan Watten

• Email: jwatten@hearstfdn.org

Students should contact their university journalism department first to confirm participation and obtain instructions for submitting their work.