Award Categories
Award categories for Individual Journalists and/or Teams of Journalists plus overall awards for individual journalists
Note: The competition judges ask that entrants include a PDF as a back-up in case there are problems with passwords or as in the case of the Best Newsletter category, the password takes one to the current newsletter rather than the archived newsletter entered in the contest.
Note: Categories 1-13 recognize the work of a single journalist and must have a single byline, no exceptions. Categories 14-23 allow single or multiple bylines. Category 24 recognizes a team of journalists and requires more than one byline. Awards for work entered in categories 25-30 recognize the work of publication editors and writers.
Summary: If you have no choice and must use links, make sure the user name and password are noted at the end of the summary and are good until Dec. 31, 2026 allowing the same user to open multiple times.
SECTION I: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS, ALL MEDIA, SINGLE BYLINE - Multiple-bylined submissions will be disqualified.
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Category 1: Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Real Estate Consumer Education Reporting - $1,000 Award
Submit a single in-depth report, column or series of up to three reports in any medium – print, online or broadcast – with a single byline – that show(s) dogged, original enterprise reporting on current real estate policy and practices impacting the consumer – including mortgage finance, real estate brokerage, housing affordability, discrimination and other watchdog issues. This is your chance to enter your best watchdog reporting. Submit a single PDF or link of the work to be judged. The winning entry chosen for this award is not eligible to win an award in any other category. -
Category 2: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Residential Real Estate - $250 Gold Award
Submit 3 stories with a single byline in one PDF (preferred). Create a single link if you are also submitting a link to your three stories.-- Each story can be in the same medium, or published or broadcast in different media. Name the Collection at the beginning of the Summary. If you have no choice and must use links, make sure the user name and password are noted at the end of the summary and are good until Dec. 1, 2026 allowing the same user to open multiple times - both the contest judges and administrators. -
Category 3: Best Collection of Work by an Individual Covering Commercial Real Estate - $250 Gold Award
Submit 3 stories with a single byline in one PDF (preferred). Create a single link, -- if you are also submitting a link to your three stories. Each story can be in the same medium, or published or broadcast in different media. Name the Collection at the beginning of the Summary. If you have no choice and must use links, make sure the user name and password are noted at the end of the summary and are good until Dec. 31, 2026 allowing the same user to open multiple times. -
Category 4: Best Regular or Syndicated Real Estate Column - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 column with a single byline. Column submissions are limited to writers who have a regular column in a print or online publication or to non-columnists who publish a column in a regular guest column space. Entrants must explain how their piece is a column rather than a story in the summary. -
Category 5: Best Economic Analysis - Real Estate - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 6: Best Interior Design Story - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 7: Best Architecture Story - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline.
SECTION II: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS - DAILY OR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS – PRINT OR DIGITAL, SINGLE BYLINE - Multiple by-lined submissions will be disqualified.
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Category 8: Best Residential Real Estate Story – Daily or Weekly Newspaper - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 9: Best Residential Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story - Daily or Weekly Newspaper - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 10: Best Commercial Real Estate Story - Daily or Weekly Newspaper - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline.
SECTION III: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS – MAGAZINES – PRINT OR DIGITAL- SINGLE BYLINE- Multiple by-lined submissions will be disqualified.
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Category 11: Best Residential Real Estate, Residential Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Magazine Story - General Circulation- $250 Gold Award
Shelter, Business or Financial story in a consumer publication - Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 12: Best Residential Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story- $250 Gold Award
Residential Real Estate or Development, Mortgage, Finance or Home Building - Submit 1 story with a single byline. -
Category 13: Best Commercial Real Estate Trade or B-to-B Magazine Story - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single byline.
SECTION IV: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
The names of all reporters should be on the entry form.
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Category 14: Best Online Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story - $250 Gold Award - (Story should have a residential focus.)
Submit 1 story with a single or multiple bylines. -
Category 15: Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story with a single or multiple bylines. -
Category 16: Best Real Estate E-Newsletter Editor - $250 Gold award
Best Real Estate E-Newsletter Editor – This award recognizes the bylined editor of a daily or weekly news compilation or summary. The piece will be judged on its introduction and the briefs/detailed teasers that link to stories written by the newsletter author and/or other reporters. This entry also may include e-news editor interviews with journalists who wrote the stories hyperlinked in the e-newsletter, to provide insight on why those pieces stand out and/or may have interesting backstories. The e-newsletter copy, covering residential and/or commercial real estate, should be no more than 2,500 words (not including links) and must be delivered by email. Awards in this category recognize the e-newsletter writer for informing readers in short form and enticing them to click on the links for more, while Category 28 - Best Digital or Print Newsletter Issue Publication - recognizes a publication issue and its staff, much the same way a magazine issue is awarded.
SECTION V: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ONLINE or BROADCAST – COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL
The names of all reporters should be on the entry form.
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Category 17: Best Real Audio Real Estate Report – Online or Broadcast – Podcast or Radio – local, network, subscription or Internet channels
Residential, Commercial, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate, Luxury, Green Building, Home or Urban Design. Submit the work of the reporter(s) who voiced the report or hosted the podcast. -
Category 18: Best Video Real Estate Report Online or Broadcast – Streaming or Television – local, network, subscription or internet channels - $250 Gold Award
Residential, Commercial, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate, Luxury, Green Building, Home or Urban Design. Submit 1 video report by the reporter(s) who wrote and voiced the report on and off camera.
SECTION VI: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – ALL MEDIA
The names of all reporters should be on the entry form.
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Category 19: Best Breaking Real Estate News Story - $250 Gold Award - (Commercial or residential; single or multiple bylines)
Submit 1 story with a single or multiple bylines. -
Category 20: Best Investigative Report or Investigative Series - Real Estate - $250 Gold Award - Commercial or residential real estate)
Submit 1 single investigative report with a single or multiple bylines, or ALL parts of an investigative series with a single or multiple bylines -- in one PDF or with a single link, if possible. -
Category 21: Best Multi-Platform Package or Series - Real Estate - $250 Gold Award
Story package link can include audio, video, text, photos, graphics or interactive features. Submit ALL parts in 1 PDF and with a single link -- single or multiple bylines. -
Cateory 22: Best Real Estate Data Journalism Reporting
An award to recognize the work of a real estate reporter or team covering residential or commercial real estate for their collection of data, visual presentation of that data and subsequent analysis. -
Category 23: Best International Real Estate Story - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 story focused on residential or commercial real estate outside the U. S. Single or multiple bylines.
SECTION VII: TEAM AWARDS – ALL MEDIA, MULTIPLE BYLINES REQUIRED, COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL - Entry must have more than one byline
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Category 24: Best Team Report - Real Estate - $250 Gold Award
Residential, Commercial, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate, Luxury, Green Building, Home or Urban Design - Submit 1 multiple bylined report. The names of all reporters should be on the entry form.
SECTION VIII: INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM AWARDS – (Award recognizes the work of the publication writers and editor(s) - digital or print)
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Category 25: Best Design, Home or Shelter Magazine - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 magazine. (This award recognizes the work of the publication writers and editor.) -
Category 26: Best Residential Real Estate - Trade Magazine - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 magazine. (This award recognizes the work of the publication writers and editor.) -
Category 27: Best Commercial Real Estate Trade Magazine - $250 Gold Award
Submit 1 magazine. (This award recognizes the work of the publication writers and editor.) -
Category 28: Best Real Estate Newsletter Issue Digital or Print - $250 Gold Award
Best Digital or Print Real Estate Newsletter Issue- Submit one newsletter issue with multiple stories representing a comprehensive deep-dive (not a summary for the purpose of linking to top stories as discussed in Category 16) into topics pertaining to Residential, Commercial, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate, Luxury, Green Building, Home, or Urban Design. This award honors excellence evidenced in a stand-alone issue of a real estate newsletter publication. The edtior as well as staff will be recognized for their work. -
Category 29: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section - $250 Gold Award
Daily or Weekly Newspapers - Submit 1 section. (This award recognizes the work of the publication writers and its editor.) -
Category 30: Best Real Estate Web Site - $250 Gold Award
Solely Devoted to Residential, Commercial, Mortgage and/or Financial Real Estate, Luxury, Green Building Home and/or Urban Design - Submit 1 URL.
Awards
Gold
Cash awards of $250 will be awarded for the top entrant in each eligible category. Gold winners receive 2 printed certificates.
Entries in the selected categories. Judges may recognize tied or multiple winners and may choose not to bestow an award.
Categories 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Silver
Silver winners receive 2 printed certificates.
Entries in the selected categories. Judges may recognize tied or multiple winners and may choose not to bestow an award.
Categories 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Bronze
Bronze winners receive 2 printed certificates.
Entries in the selected categories. Judges may recognize tied or multiple winners and may choose not to bestow an award.
Categories 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Honorable Mention
Judges may also award Honorable Mentions. Those honorees receive 2 printed certificates.
Entries in the selected categories. Judges may recognize tied or multiple honorees and may choose not to bestow an award.
Categories 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Platinum Award - $1,000 - Best Overall Individual Entry
NAREE’s Platinum Award recognizes the writer and the editor of the piece. The cash award will continue to go to the writer.
Chosen from single-bylined entries in categories 2-23.
President’s Award - $500 - Best Freelance Collection
Recognizes the best freelance collection.
Chosen from 3 single-bylined pieces submitted by the same freelancer in categories 2-23.
Ruth Ryon Award - $250 - Best Young Journalist
Recognizes the best young journalist.
Chosen from single-bylined entries in categories 2-23 submitted by journalists who were 30 years or younger on December 31 of the previous contest year.
Award recipients and their team members may request digital award certificates and complimentary admission to the full NAREE Journalism Conference. A special Awards Day Program will highlight the conference’s educational and story gathering opportunities. Winners will be notified in advance so they can arrange to attend the full conference in 2026 or the Awards Day Program.
- Winning entries may be displayed during the NAREE Annual Conference Awards ceremony powerpoint.
- Those unable to attend will receive their awards by mail (at the address provided on the entry form) after the awards ceremony.
- A media release naming all award winners will be posted to NAREE website, www.naree.org, after the awards presentation. No advance media releases will be available.