DAME invites entries for 35th edition of media excellence awards

THE Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, DAME has invited journalists, media organisations and other eligible practitioners to submit entries for the 35th edition of its annual awards. DAME, described as Africa's longest-running media awards programme, said the awards were established to recognise excellence in mass communication and promote professional standards in the Nigerian media. The 35th edition will recognise outstanding works published between January 1 and December 31, 2025, with entries to be received on or before September 19, 2026. In its invitation to media organisations, DAME said its mission was to 'benchmark professional standards, celebrate authentic achievement, and strengthen public confidence in the media.' The awards cover five broad areas: Reporting; Commentary and Writing; Documentary-Drama; Visual and Design; and Corporate categories. The Reporting categories are Business Reporting, Child-Friendly Reporting, Education Reporting, Energy Reporting, Investigative Reporting, Judicial Reporting, Health Reporting, Lagos Reporting, Migration Reporting, Radio Reporting, Solid Minerals Development Reporting, Sports Reporting and Television Reporting. The Commentary and Writing categories are Editorial Writing, Informed Commentary and Editorial Cartooning, while Documentary-Drama covers Radio Drama, Television Drama and Television/Video Documentary. Under Visual and Design, entries are invited for Best Designed Newspaper, Best Media Website, News Photography and Child-Friendly Photography. The Corporate categories are Child-friendly Medium, Editor of the Year and Newspaper of the Year. DAME said entries in the Reporting categories would be assessed for accuracy, balance, contextual analysis, depth of research, engaging use of language and relevance of subject. For Commentary and Writing, the judging criteria include subject substance, significance, structure, style and size, while entries in the design categories will be assessed according to the requirements of the respective awards. According to the organisers, an individual may submit a maximum of two entries per category, while the same entry cannot be submitted in more than one category. Each submission is expected to include links to the published work or works, a one-page profile of the individual or organisation, and a one-page background explanation of the entry. The background explanation is intended to provide context on the work submitted, including the circumstances and rationale behind the reporting or production. DAME said all entry materials should be submitted electronically to dame@dameawards.com on or before the September 19 deadline. The organisers also appealed to media organisations to publish the awards invitation and accompanying material free of charge, describing the request as part of efforts to encourage wider participation and promote self-assessment within the media industry. The awards trust said the initiative was aimed at encouraging journalists and media organisations to examine the quality of their work while contributing to a culture of recognising professional merit. DAME has recognised individuals and institutions for excellence in mass communication since 1992. Further information on the awards is available through the DAME website. A.I Sept. 8, 2026 Post navigation Related Posts