Celebrating exceptional courage, creativity, and commitment in journalism that deepens understanding of Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and Southwest Asian communities.
The AMEJA Awards recognize journalism distinguished by rigor, originality, craft, and a commitment to bringing greater accuracy, nuance, and humanity to stories affecting our communities.
The AMEJA Awards offer recognition, solidarity, and a financial boost for journalists. The awards are open to journalists of all backgrounds and locations. Entrants do not need to be from or based in the Middle East or North Africa, be of MENA or Southwest Asian heritage, or work for a regional publication. Both AMEJA members and non-members may enter, except where category-specific eligibility requirements apply.
At a time of extraordinary pressure on journalists and newsrooms, the AMEJA Awards celebrate work that informs the public, challenges incomplete narratives, and reflects the highest standards of the profession.Seven categories. $1,000 prize per category. Open to members and non-members, with category-specific eligibility and entry rules below.
Work must be submitted prior to September 1st, and must have been published or aired between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026.
For deeply reported journalism that uncovers significant information, exposes wrongdoing or systemic failure, challenges an established account, or produces meaningful accountability.
Eligible entries may include investigations published or aired in print, digital, audio, video, or multimedia formats.
For commentary, criticism, essays, columns, explainers, or analytical journalism distinguished by originality, clarity of argument, depth of insight, and a strong command of evidence.
For narrative, profile, explanatory, cultural, or human-interest reporting distinguished by reporting depth, craft, character, and a nuanced understanding of its subject.
Recognizing photojournalism, documentary video, visual investigations, graphics, illustration, or other visual storytelling that combines strong reporting with originality, emotional depth, and technical excellence.
For podcasts, radio reports, audio documentaries, or other sound-driven journalism distinguished by strong reporting, structure, production, and storytelling.
For journalists age 30 and under whose reporting demonstrates ambition, skill, originality, and exceptional promise.
Honoring AMEJA co-founder Walid El-Gabry and recognizing a standout AMEJA member whose journalism reflects the mission, principles, and values of the organization.
Entrants do not need to be from or based in the Middle East or North Africa, be of MENA or Southwest Asian heritage, or work for a regional publication.
Both AMEJA members and non-members may enter, except for the members-only Walid El-Gabry Memorial Award.
Submissions must have been originally published or aired in English.
The entry fee is $15 for AMEJA members and $55 for non-members.
An individual may submit up to five different entries, but no more than one entry per category. A separate application and fee are required for each entry.
Entrants may submit a single piece or up to five directly related articles, reports, episodes, or other works as one entry.
The same piece or project may be entered in multiple categories. A separate application and fee are required for each category.
News organizations and other institutional sponsors may submit up to three entries per category.
Audio and video entries should include transcripts, scripts, captions, or subtitles whenever possible.
Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all submitted links and access credentials remain active throughout the judging period.
The Jury may reassign an entry to a more appropriate category.
Call for entries opens: August 1, 2026
Submission deadline: September 1, 2026
Finalists announced: October 15, 2026
Awards ceremony: October 22, 2026
Reach out at board@ameja.org.
