Since 1971, RTDNA has been honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards. Among the most prestigious in news, the Murrow Awards recognize local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Murrow Award-winning work demonstrates the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession. 

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Eligibility

News stations, networks, syndication services, program services, and digital news organizations are all eligible to enter the awards. Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented to news organizations, not individuals. Entries must be submitted as first heard on air or viewed online. All entries must have appeared between January 1 and December 31 of the prior calendar year.

Deadline

The Early Bird Deadline (with discounted pricing) for the 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards is Tuesday, January 20 at 5 p.m. Eastern. The Final Entry Deadline is Thursday, February 19 at 5 p.m. Eastern. Late entries (additional fee applies) will be accepted through Monday, February 23 at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Enter the Murrow Awards

Divisions & Categories

Entries must be submitted in the proper division and region to be considered for judging. Entrants that do not enter correctly will be disqualified. Market size is determined by MSA ranking for radio entries and by DMA ranking for television entries, at the time the contest opens. RTDNA listings for DMA rankings are final. RTDNA reserves the sole right to reclassify the submission without prior notice to the entrant. 

Divisions

• Local TV and Radio
• Network, Syndication Service, Program Service TV and Radio
• Digital News Organizations
• Student Awards

View Full Division & Category Information

View Student Murrow Awards Information

 

Fees, Member Discount & Payment

To receive the appropriate fee, entries must be completed and entrants must complete the full checkout process, including payment. Entries in the cart do not qualify for discounted pricing if payment is received after the date of a rate change. Late entries (entered after Feb. 19) are subject to a $55 late fee per entry.

Early Bird Fees (Enter Prior to Jan. 20, 5 p.m. Eastern)

		Member Rate	Non-Member Rate
Radio - Small / Large Market		$100	$175
Radio - Network		$170	$245
TV - Small / Large Market		$145	$210
TV - Network		$190	$265
Digital News Organization		$140	$215

 

Regular Entry Fees (Enter Prior to Feb. 19, 5 p.m. Eastern)

		Member Rate	Non-Member Rate
Radio - Small / Large Market		$115	$190
Radio - Network		$185	$260
TV - Small / Large Market		$160	$225
TV - Network		$205	$280
Digital News Organization		$155	$230

 

Member Discount

To qualify for member rates on entry fees, a member of your full-time news staff must be an RTDNA member through the end of the entry period. Memberships must be paid in full at the time of entry. Member discounts are verified during the entry process.

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Payment

All entries are non-refundable. Payment must be made online by Visa, MasterCard or American Express at the time of entry.  For totals in excess of $1,500, payment may be made by check. Checks must include the entry confirmation number(s). RTDNA must receive your check within two weeks of the close of the entry period for your entries to be considered. Please make checks out to the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Judging

The RTDNA Code of Ethics serves as the basis for judging standards. The decisions of the judges are final. At the discretion of the judges, awards may not be granted in some categories.

Interested in Judging? Fill Out an Interest Form

Physical Awards

RTDNA will mail regional plaques to the address listed on the entry form. You are responsible for reaching out to RTDNA to update your shipping information and are responsible for costs associated with misplaced or lost shipments due to incorrect information.

Order Replacement & Personalized Awards 

Dissent Process

In the event that an individual or group of individuals have concerns related to the process or other components of an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning work, RTDNA has established a Review Process. All concerns must be submitted through the RTDNA Murrows Review Form, and must be in reference to a previously awarded piece of work. RTDNA staff will review the concerns and escalate, when appropriate, to a committee of individuals who will review the concerns under the auspices of RTDNA’s Code of Ethics, the best practices of journalism, and all available information regarding the process to determine a path forward regarding the award in question. The review committee will consist of individuals who have a history of RTDNA leadership and engagement, are well-versed in the best practices of journalism, or are aware of the standards represented by the Murrow Awards program.

Submit Dissent Form

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