NPPA Awards Hub

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The Best of Visual Journalism

NPPA Awards

#### The Process

Every year, the NPPA honors those who have supported the organization, assisted visual journalism and visual journalists, or contributed to our profession. The nomination process is open year-round to accommodate events and news throughout the year. The final selection process takes place late in the year and is managed by the immediate past president of the NPPA. The Honors and Awards Committee reserves the right to move nominations from one category to another.

For an explanation of the new award names and how they were determined, you can read the December 2021 NPPA Honors and Awards [task force report here](https://d3dv5x9lc36tse.cloudfront.net/Task_Force_Recommendations_Regarding_NPPA_s_Annual_Awards_and_Honors_2_703b42b3e6.pdf). Please direct any questions or comments to info@nppa.org

The deadline for submitting a nomination to be considered for the 2024 awards is March 3, 2025. You do not have to be a member to submit nominations, nor does the nominee have to be a member. Each award category describes the profile of the intended recipients.

*The list of legacy NPPA awards from 1949-2021 are below the current awards.*

The news story for the [2023 NPPA Awards is here.](https://nppa.org/news/698)

The news story for the [2024 NPPA Awards is here.](https://nppa.org/news/772)



Awards Nomination Form

### [NPPA Founder’s Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/founders-awards)

The Founder's Award is the highest honor bestowed by NPPA. Our association exists because of the efforts of Joseph Costa — NPPA's founder, first president, and longtime volunteer and supporter. Those who came after him shared his passions for the very best visual journalism, and excellence in leadership and service. NPPA warmly welcomes honorees of this award into this decades-long legacy of keeping the visual journalism profession and NPPA strong and vibrant.

The Founder's Award celebrates and recognizes the careers, achievements and contributions of the most deserving individuals in our field. Those to be considered for this award are visual journalists, including editors and team leaders, who rise to the top of the profession by their conduct, initiative, leadership, skill, and devotion to duty. Also worthy of consideration are individuals who are not working visual journalists but have made contributions through service or achievement beneficial to visual journalism, or for advancing the technology or techniques utilized by visual journalists.

### [NPPA Distinguished Service Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/distinguished-service)
This award recognizes an NPPA volunteer, contractor or employee for their instrumental and invaluable service to the operational, programmatic and strategic needs of the association.

### [NPPA First Amendment Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/first-amendment)
*presented by Alicia Calzada*

This award recognizes individuals who have embraced and lived NPPA's mission of vigorously promoting freedom of the press in all its forms, to promote and advance the First Amendment especially as it relates to visual journalists. The award is presented by Alicia Wagner Calzada, a past president of NPPA, the founder and longtime chair of NPPA's Advocacy Committee, and currently, an attorney who practices media law.

### [NPPA Ethics Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/ethics-award)
*presented by John Long*

This award recognizes individuals who have embraced and lived NPPA's mission of upholding and promoting the ethical responsibilities and practices relating to visual journalism. The award is presented by John Long, a past president of NPPA and longtime chair of NPPA's Ethics committee.

### [NPPA Innovation Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/innovation-award)
This award recognizes individuals who discover, develop or pioneer new and emerging technologies, techniques or strategies to help visual journalism reach new heights.

### [NPPA Longevity Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/longevity-award)
This award recognizes a visual journalist who has completed at least 40 years of service in the visual journalism profession, whether or not they are a member of NPPA.

### [NPPA Mentorship Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/mentorship-award)
This award recognizes an individual who has served as an outstanding mentor, either to a specific individual or to the visual journalism community in general.

### [NPPA President’s Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/president-award)
This award is given at the discretion of the NPPA president for special services and support rendered to NPPA.

### [NPPA Special Citation](https://www.nppa.org/awards/special-citation)
This award recognizes individuals or organizations for their significant contributions that advance the interests of visual journalism and the NPPA.

### [NPPA Educator of the Year Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/educator-award)
This award recognizes an individual for their outstanding work as a visual journalism educator, helping their students reach their full potential.

### [NPPA Humanitarian Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/humanitarian-awards)
This award recognizes an individual for playing a key role in lifesaving, rescue or protective situations, or other circumstances in which extraordinary compassion or mercy was shown to others in need.

### [NPPA Outstanding Leader Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/outstanding-leader)
This award recognizes the leadership and advocacy roles visual journalism editors and team leaders play in their newsrooms and communities. This award honors those who facilitate and inspire the best work from visual storytellers and advocate for its publication and best use in a multitude of ways. Independent editors and leaders outside traditional workplaces are also eligible.

### [NPPA Outstanding Student Chapter](https://www.nppa.org/awards/outstanding-student)
This award recognizes one NPPA student chapter for excellence in serving students of visual journalism with highly engaging and beneficial programming and activities.

### [NPPA Community Award](https://www.nppa.org/awards/community-award)
This award recognizes an individual's efforts to build community and foster a united and inclusive atmosphere within NPPA and across our broader visual journalism industry.

Discover the best of visual journalism through the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Awards page. View past winners and submit your own nominees for a chance to be recognized in the field of visual storytelling. Explore the most prestigious awards in photojournalism and be inspired by the art of capturing real-life moments.