The Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism

New!  Listen to interviews with Jonathan Austin of the Yancey County News, and with freelance journalists Matthew LaPlante and Rick Egan, 2012 winners of the Ancil Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism.

Freelance journalists Matthew LaPlante and Rick Egan will share a 2012 Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for their efforts to document the ritual killing of “cursed” children in Ethiopia’s South Omo River Valley. A 2012 Ancil Payne Award also goes to the Yancey County News, a weekly newspaper in rural Burnsville, North Carolina which, in 15 months of operation, has established itself as a check on corrupt local law enforcement. 

Download the full news release here.

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Who We Are

The Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism recognize journalists who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to ethical conduct, even when faced with economic, personal or political pressure.  For the past eleven years they have been awarded to top journalists and news organizations around the US and have become a hallmark of excellence in journalism ethics.  Each spring, a panel of judges representing both the news industry and academia meets to decide the winners.

Save the Date

The 2012 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism Awards Ceremony will be held May 17, 2012 at the UO campus in Eugene, Oregon.  The awards ceremony luncheon is open to the public and advance registration is required. Online registration for the event will be available soon at journalism.uoregon.edu/reg

Click to view a video of the Payne Awards Luncheon.

Past Winners

2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012