Webster Awards 2026 – Categories & Eligibility

This award recognizes a single image that captures the year’s most outstanding piece of photojournalism which is journalistically significant, visually compelling, and produced with integrity.

Eligible publication platforms include print and digital (e.g., newspaper/magazine, website/app, or other editorial publication by an eligible news organization).

The award is not divided into sub-categories (e.g., feature/news/sports).

Enter

1) Eligibility

• Entry must be one (1) photograph (a single image).
• The photograph must have been created and first published for editorial purposes within the award year, in any platform (print and/or digital), including newspaper, magazine, or an eligible news organization’s website or app.
• Work must meet the program’s general eligibility rules (eligible entrants/outlets and editorial intent; not advertising or brand content).
• This category is for a photographic image only: video, frame grabs, and multi-image composites are not eligible.

2) Submission requirements (mandatory)

• Submit the image file as instructed by the awards program (format/size).
• Provide a complete caption and context (see Section 3).
• Provide publication details (outlet/platform, first publication date, and link or proof of publication where applicable).
• Sign an entrant declaration confirming compliance with these rules and the program’s code of conduct/ethics.

3) Caption and context (mandatory)

• Caption must be accurate and include: Who, What, Where, When (and Why, when relevant).
• If a subject is unidentified or a name is withheld for safety, state that clearly.
• If the photo is part of an ongoing story, include brief factual context needed to understand the image (avoid opinion or advocacy language).
• Disclose material access constraints where relevant (optional but recommended): e.g., pool access, embed rules, ‘handout’ restrictions, or controlled access that shaped what could be photographed.

4) Ethics & newsgathering

• Photograph must truthfully represent the scene and not mislead the public.
• No staging, directing, or reenactment that could misrepresent reality (unless clearly disclosed as an illustration and permitted by program rules, if allowed at all).
• No payment, inducement, or arrangement that materially influenced the creation of the photograph in a way that compromises journalistic integrity.
• Entrants must comply with applicable law, court/publication bans, and reasonable expectations of safety and dignity where relevant.

5) Image integrity, editing and manipulation

• The entry must be a single-frame image. No composites, multi-exposure constructions, stitched panoramas, or multi-image layouts.
• Permitted adjustments: tonal/color correction, global exposure/contrast, minor cropping/straightening, and routine cleanup consistent with standard editorial practice—provided the meaning is not changed.
• Prohibited: adding/removing/rearranging elements; local edits that materially alter content or context; reversing/flipping that changes meaning; excessive retouching that changes what was there.

6) AI and synthetic content (disclosure required)

• Disclosure required for any AI-assisted tools used (e.g., denoise, upscaling, content-aware fill, generative fill).
• Prohibited: generative additions/removals or any AI use that changes the factual content of the scene (i.e., creates, replaces, or removes real-world elements).

7) Verification (finalists must comply)

• Finalists may be required to provide original files for verification (e.g., RAW and/or original camera JPEG) and relevant metadata.
• Finalists may be asked for supporting documentation (assignment details, editor confirmation, publication proof, or additional frames for context).
• Failure to provide verification materials on request may result in disqualification.

8) Rights, permissions and responsibility

• Entrant confirms they hold the right to submit the photograph and that it can be reproduced by the awards program for judging, promotion, and archival purposes (non-exclusive, with credit).
• Entrant is responsible for the accuracy of captions and disclosures and for ensuring submissions do not violate legal restrictions.

Judging criteria

• Journalistic significance and news judgment: why this image matters in the year’s context.
• Impact and storytelling: clarity, emotional or informational force, and insight.
• Craft and execution: composition, timing, light, technical quality, and use of visual language.
• Integrity and context: accuracy of captioning, transparency of disclosures, and ethical approach.
• Optional consideration: difficulty/constraints in making the image (access, risk, time pressure, complexity); where relevant and appropriately disclosed.

This category recognizes overall excellence, outstanding journalistic achievement and broad public impact in the print or digital mediums.  Winner/finalists will display originality, enterprise and creativity in their submissions.  Breaking news, news series, beat reporting or continuing coverage of a major developing story will be eligible for entry in this category.  Maximum 3 URL’s per submission.

Judging Guidelines:

• Impact:
  • What was the community impact?
  • As reported, were there breakthroughs in public understanding or changes in policy as a result of the journalism
  • Did the story serve the public interest with critical information and/ or at a critical time?
• Originality:
  • Did this story include content and information unique to this news outlet?
• Timeliness and Relevance:
  • Was this work current and delivered in a timely fashion?
  • Was the work relevant to a broad cross-section of the BC population?
• Craft:
  • Did the work uphold the highest standards of journalistic excellence? Did the journalism demonstrate solid research, resourcefulness and persistence? Was the material presented in a creative and compelling fashion?
• Context:
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does it reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This category recognizes overall excellence, outstanding journalistic achievement and broad public impact in radio or audio mediums. Winner/finalists will display originality, enterprise and creativity in their submissions. Breaking news, news series, beat reporting or continuing coverage of a major developing story will be eligible for entry in this category. A maximum of a total of 30 minutes of audio material will be accepted for submissions. You may edit for length, but edits may not alter the content of an original piece that was more than 30 minutes. If more than 30 minutes is submitted, judges will only review the first 30 minutes. Series coverage is eligible in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Impact:
  • What was the community impact?
  • As reported, were there breakthroughs in public understanding or changes in policy as a result of the journalism
  • Did the story serve the public interest with critical information and/ or at a critical time?
• Originality:
  • Did this story include content and information unique to this news outlet?
• Timeliness and Relevance:
  • Was this work current and delivered in a timely fashion?
  • Was the work relevant to a broad cross-section of the BC population?
• Craft:
  • Did the work uphold the highest standards of journalistic excellence? Did the journalism demonstrate solid research, resourcefulness and persistence? Was the material presented in a creative and compelling fashion?
• Context:
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does it reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This category recognizes overall excellence, outstanding journalistic achievement and broad public impact in TV or video mediums.  Winner/finalists will display originality,  enterprise and creativity in their submissions.  Breaking news, news series, beat reporting or continuing coverage of a major developing story will be eligible for entry in this category.  A maximum of a total of 30 minutes of TV/video material will be accepted for submissions. You may edit for length, but edits may not alter the content of an original piece that was more than 30 minutes. If more than 30 minutes is submitted, judges will only review the first 30 minutes. Series coverage is eligible in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Impact:
  • What was the community impact?
  • As reported, were there breakthroughs in public understanding or changes in policy as a result of the journalism
  • Did the story serve the public interest with critical information and/ or at a critical time?
• Originality:
  • Did this story include content and information unique to this news outlet?
• Timeliness and Relevance:
  • Was this work current and delivered in a timely fashion?
  • Was the work relevant to a broad cross-section of the BC population?
• Craft:
  • Did the work uphold the highest standards of journalistic excellence? Did the journalism demonstrate solid research, resourcefulness and persistence? Was the material presented in a creative and compelling fashion?
• Context:
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does it reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This category recognizes individual journalists or journalist teams who exhibit exceptional skills in crafting engaging feature stories. The award recognizes creativity, originality, and a commitment to covering under-reported narratives. Entrants may only submit a single story, no series. Text material can be submitted as a URL, with the link leading to the story, or formatted as a PDF.  NOTE:  4,000 words maximum for any story.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice
  • Is it a story worth telling in order to enhance knowledge and understanding or to entertain?
• Craft
  • Is the story well-researched, well-written, well-told and compelling? Did it require resourcefulness, persistence and/or creativity to tell it? Is there more than a single voice telling the story, each from their point-of-view? Is the story compelling enough that you want to read to the end?
• Relevance
  • Is the story relevant, creative and original? Will it resonate with readers?
• Context
  • Did the story enhance the understanding of our history? Did it deepen our understanding of a particular issue? Did it explain a complex problem? Did it bring attention and understanding to a particularly interesting or worthy person, event or issue?

This category acknowledges exceptional journalism by individual journalists or a team of journalists who exhibit exceptional skills in crafting engaging feature stories on radio or via podcasts. The award recognizes creativity, originality, and a commitment to covering under-reported narratives.

To align with the format of a typical radio/audio news broadcast, submissions should have a cumulative duration of no more than 30 minutes. Entrants can submit one-off pieces or a series, but the submission should not exceed 3 uploads, five uploads for a series.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice
  • What was the degree of originality of the story?
  • What was the degree of significance of the subject matter?
• Craft
  • Was there quality of the feature’s delivery/broadcast?
  • Was the narrative compelling?
• Impact and Relevance
  • Did the story raise awareness, prompt discussion or further investigation?
  • Ultimately, as reported, did any tangible changes occur as a result of the story?
• Context
  • How did the story enhance the listener’s comprehension of the issue?
  • Did it provide new insights or perspectives?
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This category acknowledges exceptional journalism by an individual journalist or a team, in traditional television broadcasting or through online platforms delivering video content. The award recognizes creativity, originality, and a commitment to covering under-reported narratives.

To align with the format of a typical news broadcast, submissions should have a cumulative duration of no more than 30 minutes. Entrants can submit one-off pieces or a series, but the submission should not exceed three uploads, or five uploads if entering a series.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice
  • What was the degree of originality of the story?
  • What was the degree of significance of the subject matter?
• Craft
  • Was there quality of the feature’s delivery/broadcast?
  • Was the narrative compelling?
• Impact and Relevance
  • Did the story raise awareness, prompt discussion or further investigation?
  • Ultimately, as reported, did any tangible changes occur as a result of the story?
• Context
  • How did the story enhance readers’ comprehension of the issue?
  • Did it provide new insights or perspectives?
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Presented by the B.C. Crown Counsel Association

This category recognizes over-all excellence in investigative and enterprise journalism. Entries should contain in-depth, original reporting with demonstrated impact including specific political, social or cultural change.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or a maximum of 3 URLs (1 main story and 2 support pieces) or 5 URL’s can be entered in this category if submitting a series.

Judging Guidelines:

• Impact and Relevance:
  • What were the political, social or cultural impacts on the community?
  • What changed as a result of the story?
• Enterprise:
  • What degrees of research and enterprise were exhibited in this work?
  • Did the journalist demonstrate the skillful use of public records, data and/or confidential sources in this project?
• Originality:
  • Did the work contain unique information or official secrets uncovered by this news outlet?
  • Has the ordinary been made new, or the extraordinary understandable?
• Craft:
  • Did the journalism display solid research, resourcefulness and persistence in the preparation of this work?
  • Was the material presented in a creative and compelling fashion?
• Context:
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story or series?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This category recognizes outstanding multimedia journalism that maximizes the unique and distinctive storytelling opportunities in digital spaces. It recognizes journalism that demonstrates strong content, creative storytelling and  effectively uses digital tools to reach, inform and engage audiences.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • What makes the submission uniquely suited to be told via multimedia journalism?
  • What type of experience will the audience have?
• Craft:
  • What creative uses of multimedia tools, services and platforms, design and navigation — singly or in combination — were used to enhance the audience’s understanding of the story?
• Enterprise:
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness and persistence were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact:
  • How were multimedia tools used to engage the audience and affect the story’s impact?
• UserX:
  • What is the experience for the audience/user? Is the work interactive? Does it engage in a compelling, meaningful way?
• Context:
  • What did the work tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Endowed by Jean Cormier

Recognizes a journalist or a team of journalists for outstanding reporting for a story on complex issues in all areas of business and industry, including technology, labour issues and all aspects of business.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof.  A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or 3 URL’s can be entered in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

This award recognizes a significant contribution to B.C. arts and culture journalism. The arts and culture category will be interpreted broadly to include reporting or criticism covering music, photography, architecture, film, food, literature, visual arts, media and the performing arts. This may include profiles of artists, features, breaking news and/or investigations in the creative industries. As independence is a hallmark of the Webster awards, sponsored segments or ‘junkets’ are not eligible for this award.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or 3 URL’s can be entered in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Presented by the Law Society of BC

Recognizes a journalist or team of journalists for outstanding reporting on a story or series of stories about legal issues, the administration of justice or the legal profession in British Columbia.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or 3 URL’s can be entered in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Presented by London Drugs

This category recognizes a journalist or a team of journalists for outstanding reporting about issues surrounding health and medicine.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or 3 URL’s can be entered in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Presented by the Pacific Salmon Foundation

Recognizes a journalist or a team of journalists for outstanding reporting about our natural environment, the problems and potential solutions.

Submissions may be from print/digital, radio/audio or TV/video mediums or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio or video material or 3 URL’s can be entered in this category.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

Recognizes a journalist or a team of journalists who produce outstanding news reporting in B.C. in a language other than English. Winner/finalists will display originality, enterprise and creativity in their submissions. Breaking news, news series, beat reporting or continuing coverage of a developing story will be considered in this category.

Submissions may be print/digital, TV/video or radio/audio or a combination thereof. A maximum of 30 minutes of audio/video material or 5 URLs of related material can be entered into this category. Also, please provide your 200 word synopsis in-language followed by a version in English and also an English translation of your story must be uploaded for all entries, print and broadcast. An English translation of a broadcast is acceptable.

Judging Guidelines:

• Story Choice:
  • Why was this story important to tell?
• Craft:
  • Is the story well told, compelling and properly explained?
  • What degrees of research, resourcefulness, persistence and creativity were exhibited in telling this story?
• Impact and Relevance:
  • As reported, what was the impact on the community/issue?
  • As reported, what changed as a result of the story?
  • Is the story relevant, creative, significant or original?
• Context:
  • What did the story tell us about how we live now or did it deepen understanding of our history?
  • Does the story reflect the community is it meant to serve?
• Balance and Diversity:
  • Was the work fair to those portrayed in and affected by the story?
  • Does the work reflect the community by including a range of diverse voices and perspectives in the coverage?

The City Mic Award is named after the ground-breaking CJOR program that established Jack Webster as one of BC’s pre-eminent commentators, and is presented in memory of Linda Webster.

This award recognizes journalists who present informed, intelligent and impactful commentary in either print, TV/video, radio/podcast or online media.

Submissions should contain up to 5 examples of work on either a single or multiple topics.

Judging Guidelines:

Judges will base their decisions on the significance of the topic, the relevance of the commentary regarding the issue at hand, and the quality of the work, including clarity, originality, depth of thought and style.