EWA Announces 2024 National Awards for Education Reporting Category Winners

May 29, 2025 (WASHINGTON, DC)—The Education Writers Association is delighted to present the category winners for the 2024 National Awards for Education Reporting, recognizing the top education journalism in the United States.

The journalist honorees examined the backlash to affirmative action and the impact on college students; they brought to light disproportionate ways schools used harsh disciplinary measures against Black students and special education students; they exposed the intersection of education and lax government regulations around truck driving; and they drew compassionate portrayals of immigrant students juggling work and school. 

“As always, our winners exemplify the highest standards of education journalism being produced today,” said Kathy Chow, EWA’s executive director. “With deep investigative rigor, compelling storytelling, and a profound sense of humanity, they brought critical issues to light—often under immense pressure and in an era of great uncertainty for our profession. Their work upholds the vital role of journalism in a democracy.”

EWA announced the category prizes  at an awards ceremony during its 78th National Seminar in St. Louis. Each category prize comes with an honorarium of $1,000.

Judges selected winners from among 346 eligible entries for 17 categories of competition. 

More than 100 current and former editors and reporters independently judged the awards competition. Many are past recipients of prestigious journalism awards from EWA and others.

On Friday, May 30, EWA will honor top-prize winners: The Ronald D. Moskowitz Prize for Outstanding Beat Reporting comes with $2,500, and the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting comes with $10,000. 

EWA would like to thank all who entered the competition and express our deep gratitude to the busy professionals who volunteered their time to evaluate this year’s many fine entries.