FIRST PLACE
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Great journalism.
Lasting impact.
Celebrate Colorado’s best journalism and the people behind it. Explore award-winning reporting, exceptional newsrooms and the people whose contributions have strengthened our communities.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Our recognition programs
Better News Media Contest
Celebrating outstanding reporting, photography, design and advertising from Colorado newsrooms. Explore recent results, past winners and contest information.
2025 results & past years →A-Mark Prize for Responsive Journalism
Honoring reporting that responds to needs expressed by a community. Discover the recognized work and learn about the prize.
Explore A-Mark →Colorado Newspaper Hall of Fame
Recognizing people whose careers and contributions have strengthened Colorado journalism and the communities it serves.
Meet the honorees →The next BNC Awards open in January
The 2026 BNC Awards will open for entries in January 2027. Entry categories, rules and deadlines will be announced when the contest opens. In the meantime, explore the 2025 guidebook to see last year’s categories and requirements.
BETTER NEWS MEDIA CONTEST
BNC contest results
The 2025 Better News Media Contest recognized outstanding reporting, photography, design and advertising across Colorado. Winners were honored Aug. 29, 2026.
2025 General Excellence winners
Nine newsrooms earned General Excellence honors in their respective classes.
See all 2025 award results ↗2025 A-Mark Prize winners
The 2025 A-Mark Prize for Responsive Journalism recognized reporting that responds to community needs. Winners were honored Aug. 29, 2026.
SECOND PLACE
Yadira Caraveo’s former aides say they were mistreated, traumatized
THIRD PLACE
At a crossroads: Downtown Denver is waiting for its rebound
The Denver Post
Aldo Svaldi, Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Judith Kohler, Kevin Hamm and Donovan Henderson
Explore the reporting ↗COLORADO NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME
2026 inductees
Honoring lasting contributions to Colorado journalism, community publishing and the public’s right to know.
Bob and Gerri Sweeney
Publishers of The Villager and Weekly Register-Call, Bob and Gerri Sweeney are recognized for decades of leadership, service and commitment to Colorado’s newsrooms.
Fred Brown
Fred Brown spent 39 years at The Denver Post and helped shape the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. A journalist and national ethics leader, he was inducted posthumously.