Check it out! We've launched a beautiful new website + a Slack space where our members can share ideas, celebrate each other, announce job postings and find community. Read all about it here!

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE! .Our next free #webinar is July 15 with @mallarytenore, assistant professor at University of Texas at Austin and longtime journalist. Come learn about blending personal narrative and reporting for stories or books. #Journalism.

Well, that’s a wrap on our 2025 SFJ Excellence-in-Features Awards! . Thank you to all the incredible journo storytellers who entered, and to our dedicated judges. You inspire us. ✨. Until next year—keep telling those compelling stories. 📰✍️.

COMBINED DIVISIONS: SOCIAL MEDIA PORTFOLIO. 🥇 1st Place: @BaltimoreBanner .🥈 2nd Place: @njdotcom .🥉 3rd Place: @Suntimes .🏅 Honorable Mentions: @Oregonian & @journalsentinel

COMBINED DIVISIONS: NARRATIVE VIDEO. A short (≤5 min) lifestyle or culture video using narrative tools. 🥇 1st Place: @lauren_rap & @byNyahM.🥈 2nd Place: @vickieaconnor .🥉 3rd Place: @hadleybgreen .🏅 Honorable Mention: @pat_nabong @slesposito & Zubaer Khan, @Suntimes

COMBINED DIVISIONS: PODCAST – NARRATIVE 🎙️🎧. 🥇 1st Place: @BostonGlobe .🥈 2nd Place: @SilviaElenaFF @EmmaTalkoff @monica_campbell .🥉 3rd Place: @MarenMachles Padmini Parthasarathy & @schwellenbach .🏅 Honorable Mention: @CaraRAnthony @zkdyer @taylormcook7

SPECIAL PRODUCT – DIGITAL OR PRINT, DIV 3. Best non-regular feature; one-time or special edition. 🥇 1st Place: @Newsday .🥈 2nd Place: @BostonGlobe .🥉 3rd Place: @realAdamClark & @KatieKausch.🏅 Honorable Mention: Staff, @seattletimes

UTILITY FEATURE PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. Three stories that break down everyday life with clarity and consumer focus. 🥇 1st Place: @andsachs_sachs & @NatBCo .🥈 2nd Place: @CarolineDKee .🥉 3rd Place: @richardsima .🏅 Honorable Mention: @Tiffany87081221, @azcentral

ARTS & CULTURE CRITICISM PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. A trio of A&E stories by the same writer — no editorials. 🥇 1st Place: Chris Richards, @washingtonpost .🥈 2nd Place: @PhilipKennicott .🥉 3rd Place: Gemma Wilson, @seattletimes .🏅 Honorable Mention: Sebastian Smee, @washingtonpost

GENERAL COMMENTARY PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. Three columns or essays by the same writer on any human interest or specialty topic – no editorials. 🥇 1st Place: Yvonne Abraham, @BostonGlobe .🥈 2nd Place: @laura_yuen .🥉 3rd Place: @jaymichaelson .🏅 Honorable Mention: @GustavoArellano

FOOD WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. Three stories, columns or reviews by the same writer on any food topic. 🥇 1st Place: @ekadvany .🥈 2nd Place: @emilyaheil, @washingtonpost .🥉 3rd Place: @hannaraskin .🏅 Honorable Mention: MacKenzie Chung Fegan, @sfchronicle

FEATURE BEAT WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. Three stories by the same writer on one feature topic, such as A&E, fashion, food, health, religion, technology or travel. 🥇 1st Place: @NatBCo .🥈 2nd Place: @geoffedgers .🥉 3rd Place: @keribla .🏅 Honorable Mention: @jonbream

FEATURE WRITING PORTFOLIO, DIV 3. Three stories by the same writer from any combination of feature beats. 🥇 1st Place:@brendankiley.🥈 2nd Place: Helena Andrews-Dyer, @washingtonpost .🥉 3rd Place: @wordsbykristin .🏅 Honorable Mention: @globepatty

FEATURES SERIES OR PROJECT, DIV 3. Feature treatment of any lifestyle, A&E or news topic that has multiple parts. 🥇 1st Place: @besables @peggyllowe.🥈 2nd Place: Staff, @BW .🥉 3rd Place: John Williams, @nbkrug & @sophiah_n, @washingtonpost

SPORTS FEATURE, DIV 3. Feature treatment of any sports topic. 🥇 1st Place: Sally Jenkins, @washingtonpost .🥈 2nd Place: @JasonWolf .🥉 3rd Place: @StevePoliti .🏅 Honorable Mention: David Gambacorta, @phillysport

INCLUSION & REPRESENTATION IN FEATURES, DIV 3. Storytelling that centers historically under-covered communities. 🥇 1st Place: @Elly33 .🥈 2nd Place: Staff, @KFFHealthNews .🥉 3rd Place: @reialirui.🏅 Honorable Mention: Celeste Hamilton Dennis & Florence Middleton, @KQED

FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE ESSAY, DIV 3. An essay or first-person story that demonstrates a sense of proportion and perspective. 🥇 1st Place: @LynzyBilling .🥈 2nd Place: Michael Andor Brodeur, @washingtonpost .🥉 3rd Place: @debvankin .🏅 Honorable Mention: @literarydj

NARRATIVE STORYTELLING, DIV 3. Honoring a single story told with literary flair—featuring vivid characters, dialogue, scene-building, and a strong narrative arc. 🥇 1st Place: @DanZak .🥈 2nd Place: @skestenbaum.🥉 3rd Place: Staff, @BW .🏅 Honorable Mention: @wordbobby

FOOD CRITICISM, DIV 3. A standout single story that delivers insight and opinions on the food industry. 🥇 1st Place: @lamour .🥈 2nd Place: @BJeanClement .🥉 3rd Place: MacKenzie Chung Fegan, @SFChronicleFood .🏅 Honorable Mention: @AndiBerlin @Erica_Marcus @mariesworlds

FOOD FEATURE, DIV 3. A story focusing on food, excluding reviews or commentary. 🥇 1st Place: @timcarman .🥈 2nd Place: @eglassmanhughes .🥉 3rd Place: @hannaraskin .🏅 Honorable Mention: @SharynJackson