Congratulations to the Winners of the 2026 Online Journalism Awards

Posted By: Erin McGregor Association Updates, Features, ONA Weekly,

ICYMI: Earlier today, we announced winners in the 2026 Online Journalism Awards (#OJA26) during a virtual ceremony hosted by ONA Executive Director/CEO Niketa Patel, Deputy Director Hanaa Rifaey and 2025 Founder Award recipient Robert Hernandez.

Today's event showcased 16 of the 28 categories that were open to submissions in the 2026 OJAs. From groundbreaking investigations to compelling visualizations, this year's winners demonstrate the extraordinary ways journalism can strengthen communities and serve democracy. We are honored to present the winners and encourage you to get to know their work and impact.

See the 2026 OJA winners and finalists

Winners in the remaining 12 categories will be announced in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 1, during the Online Journalism Awards Celebration at City Winery, 6–10 p.m. Get your tickets or bring your newsroom and buy a table.

Congratulations to our winners!

Breaking News
Large Newsroom

A Fatal Encounter

Minnesota Star Tribune

Small/Medium Newsroom

Historic December Floods

The Seattle Times

Digital Video Storytelling
Tie
Long Form, Large

Filmed in Gaza

NBC News Digital

Long Form, Small/Med

Status: Venezuelan

FRONTLINE FEATURES in collaboration with Univision, ProPublica

Series, Large

View From Above

Business Insider

Series, Small/Med

Agents of Chaos: Tracking Border Patrol Operations Across the US

Bellingcat, CalMatters, Evident Media

Social Media, Large

The Economist's Visual Investigations

The Economist

Social Media, Small/Med

Dave Jorgenson Goes Independent

Local News International

Excellence in AI Innovation
Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships

Viktoriia Project

Forbidden Stories

Excellence in Science Reporting
Large Newsroom

Cancer Capitalism

Bloomberg News

Excellence in Social Justice Reporting
Portfolio

Taken by Taxes

Injustice Watch, Investigative Project on Race and Equity

Single Story

Cost of Failing

Spotlight PA

Excellence in Sports Reporting
Small/Medium Newsroom

Prey to Play

NJ Advance Media

Explanatory Reporting
Large Newsroom

Floods Above

The Washington Post

Medium Newsroom

License to Kill

CalMatters

Small Newsroom

Supreme Costs

Wisconsin Watch

Feature
Large Newsroom

Exposed and Expendable

The New York Times

Innovation in Revenue Strategy
Large Newsroom

Strib Varsity

Minnesota Star Tribune

Medium Newsroom

The Kyiv Independent Reader Revenue Strategy

The Kyiv Independent

Online Commentary
Package of Columns

American War

The Verge

Personal Narrative

Holes in My Head. Wires in My Brain.

The Globe and Mail

Student Journalism Award

When Lightning Strikes

WUFT.org at the UF College of Journalism and Communications

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award
Topical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence
Large Newsroom

Inside the Trillion-Dollar AI Machine

Bloomberg News

Tie
Medium Newsroom

"AI Boyfriends": Teens and Chatbot Relationships

Hearst Connecticut Media Group

Tie
Medium Newsroom

The Invisible Labor of AI

The Verge

Small Newsroom

My Mom and Dr. DeepSeek

Rest of World

Micro Newsroom

Shell Game

Kaleidoscope

Topical Reporting: Gender and Identity
Large Newsroom

Her Turn to Play

The Globe and Mail

Small Newsroom

The Network

Futuro Media Group