Writing Photojournalism Radio Television Multimedia

2020 Photojournalism Championship

227 photo entries were submitted in the 2019-2020 News & Features and Picture Story/Series competitions. The first-place winners of those competitions qualified for the
Hearst Journalism Awards National Championship. In addition, four finalists were selected from a semi-final round to participate.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the in-person even slated for Houston, TX was replaced by a virtual competition. Finalists fulfilled their assignment from home.

The six finalists received their assignment via a zoom session with judges Mark Morris, Luis Rios and Sue Morrow.

The assignment and instructions shared with the finalists:
“As citizens, we’ve entered a new period of social, economic and health-related instability that has impacted each of us in different ways.
For your final assignment, we ask you to turn your vision inward, and reveal to us in five to eight images, your personal quarantine experience.
Your safety, and that of those around you, is paramount. You are obligated to adhere to the shelter in place guidelines and to fulfill your assignment from within the boundaries of your home.
You may photograph those who reside with you, or anyone who visits your residence.”

The first-through-third place winners were awarded scholarships of $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000 respectively. The three finalists earned $1,500 scholarship awards.

In addition, two $1,000 awards were presented for Best Single Photo from the semi-final competition and Best Single Photo from the shelter-in-place competition.

The winners and finalists are featured below.