The 2025 MRE Journalism Contest will honor journalists who produced outstanding media content covering military, security, and defense news during 2024.
WASHINGTON, May 23 — Military Reporters & Editors (MRE) announces the launch of its annual competition for outstanding military news reporters, broadcasters, photographers, podcasters, and videographers on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. MRE celebrates its 21st year and applauds the dedicated journalists who deliver vital information on the military and veterans, homeland, and national security, as well as developments in defense, technology, and war. Join us in honoring those who illuminate this critical information for the public.
In 2025, the competition has evolved into two dynamic sections: text media and audio/video/visual media. The text media section encompasses traditional print journalism and online news journalism, both communicated through text. The second section includes both traditional broadcasting and online media platforms that deliver news through audio, video, or visual methods of communication.
Top honors come with a $1,000 and a $500 prize
We have some thrilling updates for our top awards this year. For the first time, all entries submitted to the contest, irrespective of their category, will automatically be in the running for MRE’s highest accolade, the Joseph L. Galloway Award for Distinguished Journalism. This esteemed honor comes with a $1,000 prize for the journalist whose work is deemed the “Best of the Show.” Named after the notable UPI combat correspondent and McClatchy Newspapers columnist, Joe Galloway, this award reflects excellence in journalism.
Additionally, the competition’s independent judging panel will single out the best work from a journalist entering any of the text media categories through the James Crawley Award, which is now valued at $500. This award pays tribute to Jim Crawley, a former president and member of Military Reporters & Editors (2003-2008) and the former chief military reporter at the San Diego Union-Tribune, who later reported on national security and veterans affairs for Media General.
Journalism award categories
The 2025 MRE Journalism Contest is structured to offer distinct award opportunities for those reporting on the military and related news. Across text media, participants can vie for eight prestigious awards, categorized by newsroom size, which honor exceptional reporting in breaking news, enterprise or feature articles, investigative journalism, and commentary/opinion columns. Journalists who produce content in television, radio, video, or podcasting are eligible to compete for eight targeted awards ranging from documentaries to podcast interviews, with distinctions provided for international/national and local/regional markets. An exclusive award for photographers is available, recognizing excellence in photojournalism. Notably, there is also a special award for “Best Promising Journalist,” open to journalism students eager to showcase their skills and talent.
Faculty at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Washington, D.C.., provide judging of the annual competition, independent of MRE. Rules stipulate members of the MRE Board of Directors are not eligible to participate in the contest. Ivan Meyers, senior lecturer, and director of operations at Medill, oversees and coordinates the panel of experts each year.
Discount available for MRE members
MRE members and non-members are invited to apply. Those with MRE membership are entitled to one free entry, in one category. This makes now the ideal time to apply to Military Reporters & Editors for a MRE Media Membership or MRE Student Membership – before the contest opens – so there is no delay submitting a contest entry while waiting for membership approval.
Full details about the 2025 MRE Journalism Contest, including all awards, FAQs, entry categories, entry guidelines, and official rules are available on the Military Reporters & Editors website. Following Memorial Day weekend, journalists may register and enter the contest online on the MRE Contest website at the following URL: https://mrecontest.org.
MRE | Military Reporters & Editors Mission
- Advance the public understanding of the military, national security, and homeland defense.
- Represent the interests of working journalists to the government and military.
- Assure journalists have access to places where the U.S. military and its allies operate.
- Provide resources, support. educational and networking opportunities for members, fostering excellence in journalism.
For more information, visit the MRE website at https://www.militaryreporters.org.