National & International Journalism Awards & Winners List

International Award for Journalism

Pulitzer Prizes

The Pulitzer Award is one of the most prestigious awards in journalism, literature and music in the United States. While most Pulitzer categories focus on works by Americans, the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting stands out by recognizing excellence in foreign journalism.

This was established in 1942, it is awarded annually to U.S. newspaper journalists that show exemplary, courageous coverage of news of global significance. This requires foreign reporting often under challenging conditions. Recipients include journalists reporting on major world events from global conflicts, political crises, and human rights issues across Africa, Asia, South America etc bringing these stories to the American public. Some recent International Reporting prize winning coverage includes Reuters work around atrocities faced by Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Associated Press coverage of China's mass detention camps for Uighur Muslims etc.

The award includes a certificate bearing a gold medal symbolizing the highest journalistic achievement in U.S. as well as a prize amount currently standing at $15,000.

2023 Pulitzer Prizes Award Winners in Journalism

Public Service: Associated Press, for the work of Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Lori Hinnant for courageous reporting from the besieged city of Mariupol that bore witness to the slaughter of civilians in Russia's invasion of Ukraine;

Breaking News Reporting: Staff of the Los Angeles Times for revealing a secretly recorded conversation among city officials that included racist comments, followed by coverage of the rapidly resulting turmoil and deeply reported pieces that delved further into the racial issues affecting local politics;

Investigative Reporting: Staff of The Wall Street Journal for sharp accountability reporting on financial conflicts of interest among officials at 50 federal agencies, revealing those who bought and sold stocks they regulated and other ethical violations by individuals charged with safeguarding the public's interest;

Explanatory Reporting: Caitlin Dickerson of The Atlantic for deeply reported and compelling accounting of the Trump administration policy that forcefully separated migrant children from their parents, resulting in abuses that have persisted under the current administration;

Local Reporting: Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today,

National Reporting: Caroline Kitchener of The ,Washington Post, for unflinching reporting that captured the complex consequences of life after Roe v. Wade, including the story of a Texas teenager who gave birth to twins after new restrictions denied her an abortion;

International Reporting: Staff of The New York Times, for their unflinching coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including an eight-month investigation into Ukrainian deaths in the town of Bucha and the Russian unit responsible for the killings;

Feature Writing: Eli Saslow of The Washington Post, for evocative individual narratives about people struggling with the pandemic, homelessness, ad-diction and inequality that collectively form a sharply-observed portrait of contemporary America;

Commentary: Kyle Whitmire of AL.com, Birmingham, for measured and persuasive columns that document how Alabama's Confederate heritage still colours the present with racism and exclusion, told through tours of its first capital, its mansions and monuments—and through the history that has been omitted;

Criticism: Andrea Long Chu of New York magazine, for book reviews that scrutinize authors as well as their works, using multiple cultural lenses to explore some of society's most fraught topics;

Editorial Writing: Nancy Ancrum, Amy Driscoll, Luisa Yanez, Isadora Rangel and Lauren Costantino of the Miami Herald, for a series of editorials on the failure of Florida public officials to deliver on many taxpayer-funded amenities and services promised to residents over decades;

Illustrated Reporting and Commentary: Mona Chalabi, contributor, The New York Times, for striking illustrations that combine statistical reporting with keen analysis to help readers understand the immense wealth and economic power of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos;

Breaking News Photography: Photography Staff of Associated Press, for unique and urgent images from the first weeks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including the devastation of Mariupol after other news organizations left, victims of the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the resilience of the Ukrainian people who were able to flee;

Feature Photography: Christina House of the Los Angeles Times, for an intimate look into the life of a pregnant 22-year-old woman living on the street in a tent;

Audio Reporting: Staff of Gimlet Media, notably Connie Walker, whose investigation into her father's troubled past revealed a larger story of abuse of hundreds of Indigenous children at an Indian residential school in Canada, including other members of Walker's extended family, a personal search for answers expertly blended with rigorous investigative reporting.

National Award for Journalism

Chameli Devi Jain Award

The Chameli Devi Jain Award for an Outstanding Woman Media person is presented annually to a woman media professional for exceptional contribution towards journalism. Instituted in 1982, it is considered one of India's most prestigious awards in journalism. Administered by the Media Foundation, the award carries a citation, trophy and cheque for Rs 3 lakhs.

History & Background

The Chameli Devi Jain Award was created in 1979 by the Media Foundation to commemorate freedom fighter Chameli Devi Jain. It was an initiative by industrialist Hari Shankar Singhania to honor outstanding women media professionals for their work. The first award was presented in 1982 to Vijayalakshmi Pandit for her contribution to journalism and public life. Over the years, eminent female journalists, editors, media entrepreneurs and writers working in any media have been recognized through this award.

Selection Process

The award does not accept nominations or applications. An independent jury annually selects the recipient through discussions. The jury looks for "most outstanding" woman candidates based on their work published or broadcast in the preceding three years in any media. Special consideration is given for investigative, analytical reporting and coverage of developmental issues. Jury recommendations for the award winner are approved by the Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Significance

The Chameli Devi Jain Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in India honoring women media professionals from print, radio, television and digital media. Conferred since 1982 preceding most journalism awards in the country, it remains a coveted recognition given to experienced journalists for exceptional work. Winning this award establishes the recipient as a distinguished role model and leading voice upholding high standards of journalism in India.

Criticism

There has been some criticism that the award tends to favor English media ignoring talented women journalism happening in Indian regional languages. The award conditions requiring recipients to be under age 55 is seen as limiting by some. A few believe panel composition focusing on Delhi, Mumbai weakens selection diversity. There is an opinion that foreign correspondents, photojournalists should get consideration. Some seek higher prize money at current times.

Response to Criticism

In response, the Media Foundation has clarified that entries from vernacular media are actively considered based on merit but limited by translation barriers sometimes. It maintains that seniority does not determine good journalism as seen in younger awardees. They have dismissed views on Delhi-centric bias stating recipient work areas have been widely dispersed. But Media Foundation agrees the jury can improve in representativeness. As the award funds come from philanthropy, prize value enhancements are unlikely soon.

Notable Recipients

Some prominent awardees have been Mrinal Pande, Kalpana Sharma, Neerja Chowdhury, Sheela Reddy, Usha Rai, Shobhaa De, Madhu Trehan, Gauri Lankesh and Barkha Dutt among over 40 journalists honored so far. Veteran writers Shashi Deshpande and Githa Hariharan also received this award. Some notable works cited include Gauri Lankesh’s activism and risky investigative stories in Kannada journalism, Usha Rai’s four decades of pioneering reporting starting from the 1960s, Neerja Chowdhury’s political commentary shaping public discourse during the Emergency period and Barkha Dutt’s courageous coverage of the Kargil War and 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Media person for 2022: Dhanya Rajendran

In over 35 years, the Chameli Devi Jain Award instituted by Media Foundation has built up a strong reputation recognizing the finest in women’s journalism annually. Its laureates represent female media trailblazers and role models upholding high reporting standards. The transparent selection process APPEALS quality diversity. While some concerns have been raised periodically, the award’s wholesome criteria and prestigious place retained among India’s journalism honors since the 1980s validate its credibility and impact to encourage outstanding woman media professionals over generations.