Save the Children, a global non-profit organisation that works to protect children’s rights, provide emergency relief, and support health and education, is inviting entries from professional journalists from around the world, particularly those whose storytelling has played a pivotal role in exposing child rights issues, for the Save the Children’s Global Media Awards 2026.
The Award, now in its third year, honours professional journalists from around the world whose storytelling has played a pivotal role in uncovering, highlighting, and addressing critical child rights issues. Save the Children aims to showcase the power of media to drive awareness, inspire action, and spark positive change for children everywhere.
This year, the awards will recognize outstanding work in four categories, including print (online and print), broadcast, radio/podcast, and photography.
Eligible entries are stories that were published or broadcast for the first time between July 2, 2025, and July 1, 2026.
Interested journalists are encouraged to read the criteria & rules before they enter the competition.
Winners of previous Save the Children Global Media Awards are not eligible to apply.
Entrants may participate in one or more categories, but they will only be awarded in one category; all submissions must clearly identify who the author is and which media outlet they represent; all entries must be submitted in English or original text be accompanied with an English translation of all parts of the submission; all photographs entered must be the result of photographic process using a camera; and submissions must be journalistically ethical, must not put children at risk, and must respect the dignity of children.
Submission of entries closes on August 31, 2026, at 23:59 BST and finalists will be announced in October. An independent jury of judges will review the shortlisted submissions to decide the winners. Save the Children will announce the winners on November 20, 2026, on World Children’s Day.
Entrants will be expected to submit their entries in any of the following formats: PDF, JPG, MP3 or MP4 to the Save the Children viewing platform.
For video, entrants should please submit a link to their viewing platform (eg: vimeo/youtube).
Each entry should be submitted along with a synopsis and impact statement; a summary of the child safeguarding measures you implemented while reporting on this story; and credits for up to four (4) people connected with the entry in the description.
To enter for the competition, prospective entrants should please fill in the Application Form and submit the required documents in the appropriate formats’
For detailed information about the competition, please visit https://savemediaawards.com/. Queries in relation to entering the Save the Children’s Global Media Award should be sent by email to GMU@savethechildren.org.
