Deadline: 30-Jan-2026
The NIHCM Foundation Local Media Award honors outstanding local journalism that improves understanding of health care affordability, access, and quality in the United States. The award offers a $15,000 prize for high-impact reporting published in 2025 that delivers original insights relevant to local health care markets and decision-makers.
The NIHCM Foundation Local Media Award recognizes excellence in local health care journalism that helps health plans, policymakers, health care providers, and consumers better understand and address health care affordability in the United States.
This award specifically celebrates reporting that brings clarity to local health care cost challenges and highlights practical solutions that improve access and quality of care at the community level.
Purpose of the Award
The Local Media Award aims to:
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Promote high-quality local journalism on health care affordability
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Increase understanding of the drivers and impacts of rising health care costs
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Highlight solutions that improve access to affordable, high-quality care
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Inform decision-making by health plans, policymakers, and health care providers
The focus is on local markets, where health care affordability challenges directly affect communities and patients.
Award Prize
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Cash prize: USD $15,000
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Awarded to one winning entry for outstanding local health care reporting
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Submission is free of charge
What Topics Should Entries Cover?
All submissions must focus on health care affordability in the United States, including at least one of the following:
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Drivers of rising health care costs
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Impacts of high health care costs on patients and communities
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Local policy or system-level solutions to improve affordability
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Efforts to expand access to quality health care
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Innovations that improve cost transparency or value in care delivery
Strong entries clearly connect local reporting to broader affordability challenges and solutions.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, entries must meet all of the following conditions:
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Produced by a local media outlet
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Principally focused on a local U.S. market
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Published during the 2025 calendar year
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Focus exclusively on health care in the United States
Entries from national media outlets are not eligible for this category and should instead apply to the Investigative and General Reporting Award.
Eligible Formats
Applicants may submit:
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A single, standalone article or story
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A series of stories, provided the series was officially advertised and disseminated as a series
A series must be submitted as one entry, not as individual articles.
Evaluation Criteria
Entries will be judged based on:
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Quality of reporting
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Originality and creativity
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Depth and clarity of analysis
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Ability to generate new insights or measurable impact
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Relevance to health plans, policymakers, health care delivery organizations, and related stakeholders
Judges place particular emphasis on reporting that advances understanding of local health care affordability challenges.
Who Should Apply?
This award is well suited for:
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Local journalists covering health, public policy, or economics
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Local newsrooms producing in-depth health care reporting
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Community-focused media organizations addressing local health systems
The award encourages submissions that reflect strong local reporting while contributing to national conversations on affordability.
How to Submit an Entry
Applicants should follow these steps:
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Select an eligible article or series published in 2025
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Confirm that the work focuses on a local U.S. health care market
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Ensure the content directly addresses health care affordability
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Submit the entry through the NIHCM Foundation’s designated submission process by the deadline
Each entrant may submit up to three entries, with the condition that each article or series may be entered into only one award category.
Important Dates
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Submission deadline: January 30, 2026
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Deadline time: 5:00 pm ET
Why This Award Matters
Local journalism plays a critical role in uncovering how health care affordability issues affect real communities.
By recognizing impactful local reporting, the NIHCM Foundation supports journalism that informs policy, improves transparency, and helps stakeholders identify solutions that make health care more accessible and affordable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
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Submitting work from national media outlets
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Entering stories without a clear affordability focus
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Submitting articles published outside the 2025 calendar year
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Entering the same article or series in multiple award categories
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Failing to demonstrate relevance to a specific local market
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the prize amount for the Local Media Award?
The award carries a $15,000 cash prize for the winning entry.
Who is eligible to apply?
Entries must be produced by local U.S. media outlets and focus on a specific local health care market.
What publication dates are eligible?
Only articles or series originally published in calendar year 2025 are eligible.
Can a story series be submitted?
Yes. A series may be submitted as a single entry if it was officially advertised and disseminated as a series.
Are national media outlets eligible?
No. National outlets are not eligible for this category and should apply to the Investigative and General Reporting Award instead.
How many entries can one entrant submit?
Each entrant may submit up to three entries, with each entry submitted to only one category.
Is there a submission fee?
No. Submission is free of charge.
Conclusion
The NIHCM Foundation Local Media Award recognizes the power of local journalism to illuminate health care affordability challenges and drive meaningful change.
By rewarding original, high-quality reporting focused on local U.S. markets, the award supports journalists who help communities, policymakers, and health care leaders better understand costs, improve access, and strengthen the quality of care.
For more information, visit NIHCM Foundation.