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Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism

Since 2004, the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism have recognized the best health reporting in print, broadcast and online media. The contest was created by journalists for journalists and is not influenced or funded by commercial or special-interest groups. There are 16 categories.

Submit an entry Learn more View 2025 winners View past winners

“Every year I am blown away by the impressive entries we receive. Now, more than ever, health reporting is so important and I’m honored to oversee a contest that rewards the best of it.”

– Renuka Rayasam, senior correspondent at
KFF Health News and AHCJ contest co-chair

“Between all the massive policy changes, disease outbreaks and medical advances, health care journalists are certainly busy these days. We’re honored once a year to take a step back and appreciate the amazing work being produced nationwide! Let us see YOUR inspiring work from 2026!”

– Jason Kane, NBC News Health Unit Producer
and AHCJ contest co-chair

Photo by Zachary Linhares

2026 Contest Entry Details

Entry deadline: Feb. 19, 2027, 5 p.m. ET

Please note, the entry is final and there will be no extensions provided.

Entry fees are based on AHCJ membership status and newsroom size. Small-newsroom eligibility is determined using AHCJ’s  FTE classifications. Independent and freelance journalists qualify for the lower professional rate when entering work on their own behalf.  

  • Independent/ freelance journalist or local/ small outlet: Independent/freelance entrant, or outlet in AHCJ’s smallest FTE classification
    • AHCJ member — $60
    • Nonmember — $85
  • Larger outlet/ newsroom; regional/ national/ international: Outlet in AHCJ’s higher FTE classifications
    • AHCJ member — $75
    • Nonmember — $100
  • Student: Entries in the Student category must have been produced by students in high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs for a class, a student-led publication, or a university-based outlet. The work must have been produced while the entrant was enrolled as a student.
    • AHCJ member — $25
    • nonmember — $35

To claim the member entry fee, you must be a current AHCJ member. A team entry may claim the member fee if at least one member of the team is a member of AHCJ. If you’re not certain about membership status, email membership manager Tina Price at tina@healthjournalism.org. Not an AHCJ member? Now’s the perfect time to join. Join today and save on each entry.

First-place winners receive $750, a framed certificate, and will be recognized at AHCJ’s annual conference. Second- and third-place winners receive certificates and are recognized at the annual conference.   

The first-place winner of the Student category also receives reimbursement for travel to the 2027 annual conference for up to $400 

  • Audio Reporting — Long Form (All sizes)
  • Audio Reporting — Short Form (All sizes)
  • Beat Reporting (All sizes)
  • Consumer/Feature (Large and Small division)
  • Health Policy (Large and Small division)
  • Investigative (Large and Small division)
  • Public Health (Large and Small division)
  • Business (All sizes)
  • Television and Video Reporting — Long Form (All sizes)
  • Television and Video Reporting — Short Form (All sizes)
  • Trade (All sizes)
  • Student Reporting (All sizes) 

See full category descriptions on our Rules for Entry or FAQ pages.

Categories applying to “All sizes” will seek the best work in that topic category regardless of the size of the outlet.

For categories labeled “Large division” and “Small division,” entries will be judged against work from similar-sized outlets. 

The definitions for “Large” and “Small” depend on the number of editorial staff and the type of outlet that published or broadcast the entry. To calculate editorial staff, consider the number of full-time equivalents, or FTEs, of the outlet that published the work and any collaborating partners, if applicable. 

A news outlet’s editorial staff includes any and all editorial roles, including but not limited to: reporters, editors, producers, hosts, anchors, photojournalists, board or camera operators, show or podcast staffers, social media and community engagement staff, and newsroom or programming managers and supervisors.

Part-time and contract employees should be included in the FTE count. (A half-time or quarter-time employee would count as 0.5 or 0.25 FTEs, respectively).

See the entry size flowchart

Large division

  • Entries published in outlets specializing in health or science, with more than 30 editorial FTEs.
    • OR — Any entry produced in collaboration with an outlet that specializes in health or science, in which the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets exceeds 30.
  • Entries published by print or digital outlets (including newspapers, magazines and online-only outlets) with more than 100 editorial FTEs.
    • If the entry was produced in collaboration with another outlet, the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets must be counted. If the total number exceeds 100, the submission belongs in the Large category.
  • Entries produced by broadcast outlets (radio, TV, podcasts, videos) with more than 50 editorial FTEs.
    • If the entry  was produced in collaboration with another outlet, the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets must be counted. If the total number exceeds 50, the submission belongs in the Large category.
  • Any collaboration between Large and Small outlets.
    • Any piece produced by a freelancer, or person employed by a Small outlet, that was produced for or in collaboration with a Large category outlet must enter in the Large category.
  • Entrants may choose to default any entry into the Large category.

Small division

  • Entries published in outlets specializing in health or science, with 30 or fewer editorial FTEs.
    • OR — Any entry produced in collaboration with an outlet that specializes in health or science, in which the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets is 30 or fewer.
  • Entries published by print or digital outlets (including newspapers, magazines and online-only outlets) with 100 or fewer editorial FTEs.
    • If the entry  was produced in collaboration with another outlet, the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets must be counted. If the total number is 100 or fewer, the submission belongs in the Small category.
  • Entries produced by broadcast outlets (radio, TV, podcasts, videos) with 50 or fewer editorial FTEs.
    • If the entry  was produced in collaboration with another outlet, the total number of editorial FTEs in all participating outlets must be counted. If the total number is still 50 or fewer, the submission belongs in the Small category.

More About the Awards

Rules for Entry

Past Winners

FAQ

2026 Call for Entries

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