2026 MRE Journalism Contest Categories
There are 20 categories open for entry submissions this year.
Entrants may submit up to four entries across all categories. Editors may submit an unlimited number of entries, but no more than four for any journalist.
AUDIO MEDIA Categories
Content broadcast via radio or as audio or podcast through online media outlets.
There are two different categories across all audio platforms.
Best Audio Documentary
Award for best audio, radio, or podcast coverage on a topic related to the military, veterans, or war.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single episode, series of episodes, or season.
- Entry must be submitted as a single recording (link and/or upload) with a maximum length of 30 minutes and edits clearly marked.
Best Audio Talk Show or Interview
Award for best audio, radio, or podcast coverage on a topic related to the military, veterans, or war.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single episode, series of episodes, or season.
- Entry must be submitted as a single recording (link and/or upload) with a maximum length of 30 minutes and edits clearly marked.
Audio Media – Category Based on Market
There is one category for radio news with two divisions.
Best Radio News – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best radio news coverage on a single topic of interest related to the military, veterans, or war.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single report or a series of reports on the same topic.
- Entry must be submitted as a single recording (link and/or upload) with a maximum length of 15 minutes and edits clearly marked.
Division Definitions:
Division 1: International / National Market
Division 2: Local / Regional Market
TEXT MEDIA Categories
Content published as text in traditional print or online news outlets.
There are four different categories in two divisions based on newsroom size for a total of eight categories.
Best Breaking News Reporting – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best work exemplifying breaking coverage of a major news event on deadline.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single report or a series of reports on the same topic.
- Entry may contain one to four articles on the same topic.
Best Enterprise / Feature Reporting – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best work on a single topic containing numerous voices, creativity, sources of information/data or focused reporting that provides deeper context into a subject, in contrast to a typical news story.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single report or a series of reports on the same topic.
- Entry may contain one to four articles on the same topic.
Best Investigative Reporting – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best work demonstrating in-depth, analytical skills, with information gathered over time, originality, use of public records, if they apply, and outcomes of the investigation.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single report or a series of reports on the same topic.
- Entry may contain one to four articles on the same topic.
Best Commentary / Opinion – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best work by a columnist who writes about topics covering the military, national security, or homeland defense on a regular basis.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry must be the work of one journalist.
- Entry must include five columns.
Division Definitions:
Division 1: Newsrooms with 20 or more reporters
Division 2: Newsrooms with fewer than 20 reporters
VIDEO MEDIA Categories
Content broadcast via television or as video through online media outlets.
There are two different categories with two divisions based on market for broadcast and online media for a total of four categories.
Best TV / Video News – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best news coverage on a single topic related to the military, veterans, or war.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single report or a series of reports on the same topic.
- Entry must be submitted as a single video (link and/or upload) with a maximum length of 15 minutes and edits clearly marked.
Best TV / Video Documentary – Division 1, Division 2
Award for best documentary or docuseries designed around a single topic related to the military.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry may be either an individual’s or team’s work.
- Entry may be a single episode or a series of episodes on the same topic.
- Entry must be submitted as a single video (link and/or upload) with a maximum length of 30 minutes and edits clearly marked.
Division Definitions:
Division 1: International / National Market
Division 2: Local / Regional Market
VISUAL MEDIA Categories
Content published as visual media in traditional print or online media outlets.
There is one category for photography.
Best Photojournalism
Award for best photography on a single topic related to the military, defense or veterans’ news or war coverage.
Single Entry Details:
- Entry must be an individual photographer’s work.
- Entry may be a single image or a series of images on the same topic.
- Entry may include one to five related images.
*At the sole discretion of contest judges a piece of work could be singled out for “Honorable Mention” resulting in more than one visual media award.
STUDENT MEDIA Category
Content published across all contest categories is eligible.
There is one category for student work.
Best Promising Journalist
Award is for the best student package or project that expertly uses print or digital storytelling to inform its audience regarding a specific story or topic related to military, veterans, or war.
Judges will consider the quality of the journalism, design, creative and appropriate uses of media, and the ways in which print, digital and mobile platforms are maximized to engage and inform audiences.
Entry Details:
- Refer to media-specific categories.