The annual Ossie Awards, named after journalist Osmar S. White, are organised by the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia. Senior journalists and editors judge the main award categories.

The 2026 Ossie Awards will open via an online submission process on May 29, 2026, and now accepts entries from university journalism programs across Australia, New Zealand and the South-Pacific.

The deadline for the 2026 awards will be midnight on October 30 (NSW time). The awards will be presented during the JERAA conference in early December.

Winners in most categories receive a $200 prize, funded in perpetuity by a generous donation by White’s daughter, journalist and author Sally A. White.

A Student of the Year Award worth $750 is available, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Australian Press Council. The Press Council is sponsoring two other awards each worth $200 on media ethics and press freedom.

JERAA is also able to continue our specialist award categories continue due to the generosity of our sponsors:

• Private Media, owners of Crikey, have sponsored the Private Media Award for Diversity, and the Crikey Investigative Journalism (Individual) award.
• Centre for Journalism and Trauma Asia Pacific as sponsor of the Journalism and Trauma Reporting Award.
• The Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub Award for Best Climate Change Reporting, which attracts a $200 prize.
• The Mindframe for Journalism Education award attracts a $200 prize and is sponsored by Everymind.
• A $200 award sponsored by Our Watch recognising excellence in the coverage of violence against women and non-binary people.

JERAA is also grateful for the continuing sponsorship of the following:

• Sally A. White for extending her generous support of the Ossies by sponsoring the group investigative journalism award, now named the Dorkin Investigative Journalism (Group) award after her father.
• Intellect for providing a book voucher of 100 GBP for the Best Publication award.
• Getty Images for sponsoring both photojournalism awards (single image, and photo essay).

JERAA also thanks the anonymous sponsor who provides $200 for the John Newfong Award for Reporting on Indigenous Affairs.

In 2026, JERAA believes the current categories reflect recent changes in journalistic practice in both Australian/New Zealand media and journalism courses. Information can be found about all the awards in our Categories sub-menu.

Note that all entries must detail if, and how, Generative AI tools may have been used in the creation of the work submitted.