POY Opens for entries on Dec. 15

We are pleased to announce the 82nd annual Pictures of the Year International competition will begin accepting entries on Dec. 15. The deadline is Jan. 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. CST.

POY judging begins Monday, Feb. 3 and continues until Feb. 24. The entire competition will be livestreamed. The News, Sports and Reportage divisions will be judged in person at the Missouri School of Journalism. The editing and documentary categories will be virtual.

Like last year, the entry fee is $50 USD and will increase to $60 on Jan. 6, 2025. The price is not connected to the deadline. For example, you may register before Jan. 6 and pay $50 and wait until deadline day to complete the entry by Jan. 12.

This year’s categories include a focus on political campaigns and the U.S. presidential election as well as the Olympic games in Paris.

We are not hosting a category for “Documentary Storyteller of the Year” as documentary work has evolved mostly into a team effort.

We have renamed the “Documentary Journalism” category to “Documentary of the Year.” The category recognizes excellence in longform documentary work, approximately 15-45 minutes. It is open to teams or individuals.