National Headliners was hatched in 1934 from the bluff and bluster
of publicity-hungry Atlantic City, then the nation’s foremost seaside resort. Its midwife was the Press Club of Atlantic City, founded in 1888
and now the nation’s longest-surviving press club.
Read more about the history of the contest.
Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic excellence.
The first National Headliner Awards were presented in 1935. Since then, more than 2,850 Headliner medallions have been presented to outstanding photographers, writers, daily newspapers, news syndicates, websites, radio and television stations, TV and radio networks and magazines.
Membership in the exclusive National Headliner Club is limited to individuals and organizations who have won Headliner medallions and to those men and women who serve as consultants and judges for the annual program. Many journalists have capped long and distinguished careers with a National Headliner Award, and each year the judges have recognized exceptional talent that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
A call for entries for the 91st edition of the awards will be announced in mid-December.
News
Flashbulbs and Flashbacks: Awards Emphasize Innovative Reporting
The National Headliner Awards have always stood apart from other competitions, whether it’s as an early adopter of television and online journalism, or its emphasis on innovative reporting techniques.
Flashbulbs and Flashbacks: Women Honored Early by Headliners
In an industry dominated by men, it took Headliners nearly a decade to honor a woman. She was Helen Hiett, who demonstrated that shoe leather comes on dancing shoes, too.
90th National Headliner Awards winners honored
Miami Herald, Oregonian, Minnesota Public Radio, Reuters and ESPN take the Best in Show awards.
Headliner Awards History & Timeline
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