WIBN Journalism Excellence Award
About the WIBN Journalism Excellence Award
The WIBN Journalism Excellence Award celebrates Indigenous journalists whose work demonstrates excellence in storytelling, cultural integrity, truth-telling and accountability, while contributing meaningfully to their communities and strengthening Indigenous perspectives in national and global media.
Across our global network, Indigenous journalists bring distinct languages, cultures and lived experiences to their reporting. They tell stories with courage and responsibility, amplify community voices and hold power to account. This award honours their work and the communities they serve.
Who Can Enter
Entries are open to Indigenous journalists connected to a WIBN member network through:
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Full-time, part-time or contract employment.
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Regular contributions or freelance work commissioned by a member network.
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Participation in a co-production between member networks.
The award: its story and creator
This award was created as a symbol of strength, connection, and the enduring power of storytelling. Its geometric outer form speaks to grounding and resilience, while the braided form references connection and collective strength. The interwoven gesture symbolizes many voices coming together, reflecting ideas of unity, continuity, and global Indigenous connection.
Made from clay, one of humanity’s oldest and most permanent materials, the award is transformed through fire, heat, and pressure, echoing how stories and knowledge evolve as they are carried forward across generations.
Created to recognize excellence in Indigenous journalism, the award honours the power of storytelling to protect voices, strengthen connections, and carry knowledge forward.
Designed by Mali Ille and Zachary Lemay-Choquette
Mali Ille is an Abenaki designer based in Montréal. Her practice spans graphic design, branding, and visual storytelling, often exploring culturally grounded narratives through a contemporary lens.
She has contributed to a range of Indigenous cultural and community projects and collaborated with studios and clients around the world. Her work has received numerous national and international recognitions.
For this award, Mali collaborated with Zachary Lemay-Choquette, an industrial designer by training whose practice now focuses on ceramics. Bringing his knowledge of form, material, and ceramic processes to the project, Zachary helped translate the concept into a physical object and bring the award to life.
2026 Winner & Finalists
Recognising outstanding Indigenous journalism.
The 2026 WIBN Journalism Excellence Award celebrates the journalists and stories making a meaningful contribution to Indigenous media and their communities.
Through powerful reporting, cultural knowledge, and responsible storytelling, this year's recipients demonstrate the important role Indigenous journalism plays in informing audiences, amplifying perspectives, and holding space for community voices.
2026 Award Winner
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Broadcaster or Network
Story Title
Add a short description of the story and its significance.
2026 Finalists
Looking Ahead to 2027
The next chapter of Indigenous journalism excellence.
The WIBN Journalism Excellence Award will return in 2027, continuing to recognise the journalists whose work informs, connects, and strengthens Indigenous communities around the world. Further details about the next award cycle, including entry dates, categories, and submission requirements, will be announced soon.