The Mirror Awards are the preeminent competition for recognizing excellence in media industry reporting.

Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the Mirror Awards honor the reporters, editors and teams of writers who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public’s benefit.

The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators.

Six categories will be featured for 2026. The returning categories are best single article/story, best profile, best commentary, and the John M. Higgins Award for best in-depth/enterprise reporting. New this year is the best media newsletter category, which will honor a regular email newsletter covering the media industry. There is also a special topic category on the future of late-night television. Each category comes with a $1,000 honorarium, except for the Higgins Award, which is $5,000.

Works eligible for consideration are print, broadcast and online editorial content, including material published in consumer and trade magazines; local and national newspapers; local, national or syndicated radio and television features and programs; online local, national or syndicated radio and television features and programs; and online publications, blogs and websites. Works must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025.

The subject matter of entries should focus on the business, people, processes and regulations involved in the development or distribution of news and entertainment content. Television reviews, film reviews, fictional works and books are not eligible.

There is no fee for entry.

Before submitting, please ensure all of your pieces were published in 2025 and that they are about the media industry. All entries must adhere to the full rules of entry here: https://portal.newhouseawards.com/2026-mirror-awards

Please review the information below before completing your entry.

1. Complete all required fields. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be filled out before submitting your entry.
2. Provide accurate contact details. This ensures we can reach you if clarification or follow-up is needed.
3. Double-check your information. Once submitted, edits can only be made by contacting the awards administrator.
4. Submission confirmation. You’ll receive a confirmation email after your entry has been successfully submitted.