2026 Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards - Nominations
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The Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards honor excellence in investigative and public service reporting that exposes injustice, elevates community voices and holds the powerful to account in South Florida
Nominations are open to recognize journalists, student journalists, newsrooms, public media outlets, and documentary filmmakers for outstanding original local reporting about local issues within Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach or Monroe counties.
Eligible submissions must have been published or newly released in 2025.
Nominations are due by Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm (ET).
Submissions may include:
- A single piece or a series of up to three related pieces
- Nominations are encouraged across different mediums, including print, digital, television, radio, podcasts, video, audio, data visualization, and documentary film (up to 120 minutes in length are eligible)
Anyone can nominate a journalist or team of journalists. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Submissions will be judged by the rigor of newsgathering, quality of storytelling, inclusion of community voices, and the impact on public understanding or action. Jurors include highly experienced professional journalists, members of the community and members of the Esserman family.
The awards recognize multiple forms of excellence in journalism, including accountability reporting, explanatory reporting, beat reporting, local community reporting, and student journalism.
Awards include:
- Accountability Reporting: $10,000 first prize; $5,000 second prize; three $1,000 honorable mentions
Winners will be notified in April, with a public announcement and event to follow.
To learn more about the awards, please visit our website and review the frequently asked questions.
Questions? email us at essermanknight@miamifoundation.org