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Learn through real-world reporting on current issues.
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Awards

Awards

Medill students, alumni and faculty are regularly recognized with some of the top awards for journalism, media and integrated marketing communications excellence.

Current Medill students participate in a variety of contests, and Medill alumni have gone on to win Pulitzers, Emmys, Cannes Lions and many other awards recognizing excellence. Medill confers three major awards to working journalists. We also present a number of awards at graduation convocation each year.

Alumni Awards

Hall of Achievement: The Hall of Achievement was established in 1997 to honor Medill alumni and individuals whose distinctive careers have had positive impacts on their fields, including journalism, the arts, business, academia, nonprofits and others.

Discover Medill's Hall of Achievement inductees
Our Pulitzer Winners: We recognize the outstanding work of alumni who are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, bestowed since 1917 for excellence in journalism and the arts. The Pulitzers were established by provisions in the will of publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Prizes are awarded yearly in 21 categories.

Discover Medill's Pulitzer Prize recipients

Medill Awards

Cecilia Vaisman Award: The Cecilia Vaisman Award honors the legacy of late Medill associate professor and NAHJ member Cecilia Vaisman, an audio journalism leader who inspired countless students to pursue careers in video and audio journalism.

Learn more about the Cecilia Vaisman Award
Don Schultz Award for Innovation in Teaching, Theory and Practice of IMC: This award honors late Medill Professor Don Schultz, who played a pivotal role in creating the field of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and was instrumental in establishing the IMC department at Medill in the early 1990s.

This international award is open to marketing professors or professionals who have shown excellence in teaching the principles of IMC and have created new frameworks to communicate with customers and drive financial performance.

Learn more about the Don Schultz Award
Howell Essay Contest: The Walter S. and Syrena M. Howell Essay Competition is an annual contest that challenges Medill students to discuss “truth gone awry,” in the context of news gathering and dissemination. The winner of the contest is awarded $4,000.

Learn more about the Howell Essay Contest
John Bartlow Martin Award: This annual award honors outstanding professional public interest magazine journalism, at which Martin was so adept himself.

Learn more about the John Bartlow Martin Award
James Foley Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism: The award honors journalists who best display moral, ethical or physical courage in the pursuit of a story or series of stories.

Learn more about the James Foley Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism
IJA Medill Milestone Achievement Award: This award honors an individual who has made a lasting effect on media for the benefit of Indigenous communities and the general public relative to Indigenous peoples. It celebrates and encourages responsible storytelling and journalism in Indian Country.

Learn more about the IJA Medill Milestone Achievement Award

Undergraduate Journalism Awards

William C. Fyffe Award: This award recognizes Medill undergraduates who demonstrate professional competency in and dedication to the mission of broadcast journalism.

Learn more about the William C. Fyffe Award
Gary Cummings Memorial Award: This award for undergraduates who excel in broadcast journalism is named in honor of Gary Cummings, who directed Medill's broadcast journalism program.

Learn more about the Gary Cummings Memorial Award
Valedictorian Award: The Valedictorian Award honors the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade-point average.

Learn more about the Valedictorian Award

Graduate Journalism Awards

Harrington Awards: Medill's highest awards for graduate journalism students honor the top students in each major area of specialization.

Learn more about the Harrington Awards
Gertrude and G.D. Crain: The Crain award honors students in the Medill Magazine Publishing Project who exhibited outstanding management potential.

Learn more about the Gertrude and G.D. Crain

Graduate IMC Awards

Arthur E. Tatham Award: This award honors Northwestern graduate Arthur E. Tatham, who was a leader in the Chicago advertising industry.

Learn more about the Arthur E. Tatham Award
Jack Sissors Memorial Award: This award recognizes IMC students who best exemplify the qualities of mentorship and generosity of intellect, spirit and personality.

Learn more about the Jack Sissors Memorial Award
Journal of Integrated Communications (JIMC): The JIMC award honors students for leadership in editing and managing this internationally distributed journal of theory and practice.

Learn more about the Journal of Integrated Communications (JIMC)
Richard C. Christian Award: This award recognizes students who make notable contributions to advancing the learning experience for themselves and their peers.

Learn more about the Richard C. Christian Award
Robert E. "Buck" Buchanan Award: The award is presented to IMC students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Learn more about the Robert E. "Buck" Buchanan Award
Ronald B. Kaatz Humanitarian Award: This award recognizes IMC students who best exemplify the qualities through mentoring and demonstrating generosity of intellect, spirit and personality.

Learn more about the Ronald B. Kaatz Humanitarian Award
Stanley Tannenbaum Memorial Award: The Tannenbaum Award honors IMC Part-Time and Online students who have outstanding academic performance.

Learn more about the Stanley Tannenbaum Memorial Award
Student Leadership Award: This award recognizes graduates who build the IMC program through service and leadership to fellow students.

Learn more about the Student Leadership Award
Student Service Award: This award honors IMC students who help build the program through service to other students.

Learn more about the Student Service Award
Walter Dill Scott Award: This award, named in honor of the 10th president of Northwestern University, recognizes outstanding IMC students.

Learn more about the Walter Dill Scott Award