2026 Kennedy Award Categories

The Kennedy Awards are a national media awards program. Entry is open to all Australian working journalists, cartoonists, camera operators and videographers.

ALL MEDIA

• Indigenous Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding  Cartoon

• Outstanding Consumer Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Court and Legal Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Crime Reporting

• Outstanding Finance Reporting

• Outstanding Foreign Correspondent

• Outstanding Investigative Reporting

• Outstanding Online News Breaking

• Outstanding Political Reporting

• Outstanding Reporting on Human Rights, Social or Religious Affairs

• Outstanding Reporting on the Environment

• Outstanding Sport Reporting

• Outstanding 3 Headlines

• Outstanding Racing Reporting (updated )

• Outstanding Team Player or Mentor

• Scoop of the Year

• Regional Broadcast Reporting

• Student Journalist of the Year

• Young Journalist of the Year (if age 27 or under on June 30, 2026)

• The Kennedy Prize - Journalist of the Year

• Lifetime Achievement (Selected by the Kennedy Foundation Board)

PRINT/TEXT

• Outstanding Columnist

• Outstanding Feature Writing

• Outstanding Travel Writing

• Outstanding Digital Innovation

• Regional Reporting Print and Online

TELEVISION/VIDEO

• Outstanding News Camera Coverage

• Outstanding Television News Reporting

• Outstanding Nightly Television Current Affairs Reporting

• Outstanding Television Current Affairs Reporting -Long Form

• Outstanding Documentary

AUDIO JOURNALISM

• Outstanding Podcast

• Outstanding Radio News and Current Affairs

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Outstanding News Photography

• Outstanding Portrait Photography

• Outstanding Sports Photography

• People's Choice Photographic Award- The Power of the Lens