{"id":2250,"date":"2017-08-24T16:44:13","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T16:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ona17.journalists.org\/?p=2250"},"modified":"2017-10-01T17:48:34","modified_gmt":"2017-10-01T17:48:34","slug":"2017-online-journalism-awards-finalists-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ona17.journalists.org\/2017\/08\/24\/2017-online-journalism-awards-finalists-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"2017 Online Journalism Awards finalists announced"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Finalists for the 2017 Online Journalism Awards<\/a>, representing a wide range of nonprofit, public, academic, major media and emerging technology organizations from around the globe, were announced today by the Online News Association.<\/p>\n

Thirteen of the awards now come with $58,500 in prize money, courtesy of John S. and James L. Knight Foundation<\/a>, the Gannett Foundation, <\/a>the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications<\/a> and Journalism 360<\/a>. These awards honor data journalism, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, immersive storytelling, public service, technical innovation, student journalism and general excellence.<\/p>\n

In 2017, two new categories have been added to honor evolving forms of journalism, both of which received a number of impressive entries: Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, which honors exceptional efforts in telling stories through digitally-focused audio, including podcasts, audio-centric online works and other emerging media; and Excellence in Immersive Storytelling, which honors exceptional efforts in telling stories through digital, immersive media: virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 360 video and other emerging media.<\/p>\n

A special selection committee also granted the James Foley Award for Conflict Reporting<\/a> to photojournalist and multimedia producer Tara Todras-Whitehill. She is the third recipient of the award<\/a>, which honors journalists reporting under the most challenging conditions. Todras-Whitehill has been documenting stories of vulnerable populations \u2014 especially women and refugees \u2014 in the Middle East region for over a decade.<\/p>\n

“The selection committee felt Tara’s work sets a sky-high bar for digital journalism that\u2019s practiced in challenging conditions and takes on critical stories and issues,\u201d said Eric Carvin, Social Media Editor at The Associated Press and chair of the committee. \u201cShe\u2019s exhibited a rare combination of bravery, digital savvy and eye-catching visual skills, and her work as co-founder of Vignette Interactive has driven storytelling in exciting new directions across the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n

The winners will be announced at the 2017 Online News Association Conference and Online Journalism Awards Banquet<\/a> on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Washington, D.C. Joshua Johnson, host of WAMU and NPR’s 1A, will emcee the awards ceremony.<\/p>\n

A group of 119 industry-leading journalists and new media professionals teamed up to screen 1,166 entries and select semi-finalists. Thirty judges representing a diverse cross-section of the industry then conferred to determine finalists and winners.<\/p>\n

Explore all the finalists on awards.journalists.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The finalists, many of whom push the envelope of innovation and excellence in digital storytelling and distribution, are:<\/p>\n

Breaking News, Medium Newsroom<\/h5>\n