ROBERT L. VANN MEDIA AWARDS

The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation is calling for its 37th annual Robert L. Vann Media Awards.

The awards will recognize journalism excellence in coverage of African American and African diaspora communities, individuals and issues via print, broadcast, multimedia, visual presentation, and digital media categories in Western Pennsylvania, Western and Central Ohio and parts of West Virginia. Also, the student contest honors excellence in journalism at colleges and universities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

All contest entries must have been published or broadcast in 2025.

The submission period is starting soon!

Finalists for the professional contest will be announced in the spring and winners will be named at an awards dinner/ceremony on May 28, 2026, at 6 pm at Lawrence Hall, Point Park University.

The professional contest will be judged by seasoned journalists and media educators outside the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. PBMF reserves the right to recategorize entries.

Qualifying entries may be from traditional print newspapers or digital media news organizations that consistently publish new written content daily, or four or more times a week. Entries may be a single story or series. Entrants should be the writer(s) or reporter(s) most responsible for the written entry.

Qualifying entries may be from traditional newspapers or digital media news organizations that publish new written content three or fewer times a week. Entries may be a single story or series. Entries should be the writer(s) or reporter(s) most responsible for the written entry.

Qualifying entries may be from traditional print magazines or the digital versions of magazines. Entries may be a single story or series. Entrants should be the writer(s) or reporters(s) most responsible for the written  entry. Articles that appear in a newspaper’s magazine or newspaper supplement should be submitted in the daily or non-daily written categories, not the magazine category.

Qualifying entries may be from traditional television or digital video media or traditional print outlets producing video content that is associated with any journalistic or media organization. Entries may be a single story, single program, or series. Entrants should be members of the production team most responsible for the entry (i.e. reporters, producers, writers, editors, videographers).

Qualifying entries may be from traditional radio or podcasts or digital audio media or traditional newspapers and print outlets that produce audio content associated with any journalistic organization. Entries may be a single story, single program, or series. Award entries should be the member(s) of the production team most responsible for the entry (i.e. reporter, producers, writers, editors, sound engineers).

Qualifying entries may be from traditional daily and non-daily print, traditional broadcast, OR digital platforms of web-based news and media services. Entries may be a single story, single program, or series. Award entries should be listed from the member(s) of the production team most responsible for the entry (i.e. reporter, producers, writers, editors, sound engineers).