The National Headliner Awards have opened their 2026 entry period, inviting journalists, content creators, and producers to submit their best work in writing, broadcast, online, and multimedia categories — including podcasts and digital multimedia entries. This annual competition is among the longest‑running journalism awards in the United States, with the first Headliner Awards presented in 1935 by the Press Club of Atlantic City.
The contest celebrates journalistic excellence across a wide range of media formats. In recent years, podcasts and audio‑focused projects have featured in digital and online categories, acknowledging the evolving role of long‑form audio storytelling in journalism and media.
Evidence of this trend appears in past award cycles, which have recognized podcasts such as Best Digital Information Podcast winners.
Entries for the 2026 National Headliner Awards must be submitted online and cover material published or broadcast in the United States during the 2025 calendar year. Organizers maintain that the contest remains open to a broad spectrum of contributors — from local digital publishers to national media outlets.
The awards’ history extends nearly a century. Since its inception in the 1930s, the National Headliner Awards has grown into a major platform for honoring outstanding journalistic work in print, radio, television and online formats.
Podcasters interested in entering should consult the official Headliner Awards category list, which outlines digital multimedia categories that are suitable for spoken‑word audio productions, including podcasts and related digital storytelling. Submissions must adhere to contest deadlines and guidelines, with fees and entry instructions available on the awards website.
For creators focused on journalism, investigative reporting, narrative audio, or innovative storytelling, the National Headliner Awards offer a prestigious forum to gain recognition alongside traditional media formats — further underscoring the growing importance of podcasts in the broader media landscape.
