Prison Journalism Project is proud of our writers’ impactful work and our dedicated team. We are honored that PJP and our writers’ work with us have been recognized by our peers with the following awards.
2026
Library of Congress Literacy Awards
Anthem Awards
Finalist in Human & Civil Rights category
- Journalism as Literacy: Restoring Voice, Opportunity, and Civic Participation (Education or Literacy Program)
- Cancer in Confinement: Incarcerated Journalists Report On Prison’s Leading Killer (News & Journalism)
2026 Stillwater Awards
- Prison Journalist of the Year
Third Place: Phillip Luna - Best Reported Essay
First Place: “The Night I Ate Wagyu Steak in Prison,” by Phillip Luna
Second Place: “Fighting in War Still Didn’t Prepare Me for Prison’s Mental Health Crisis,” by Derek S. Carter - Best Op-Ed
Third Place: “Who Should Care for the Elderly in Prison?,” by Patrick Irving
2025
Poynter Institute
Punch Sulzberger Prize for Journalism Innovation, finalist for PJP’s “Summer Heat in Prison: Just How Hot Are Our Nation’s Prisons?,” special project.
Online Journalism Awards
Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism, Urban & National Focus, finalist for “Summer Heat in Prison: Just How Hot Are Our Nation’s Prisons?,” special project.
2025 LION Sustainability Awards
Community Engagement finalist for PJP’s “Summer Heat in Prison: Just How Hot Are Our Nation’s Prisons?,” special project.
2025 Stillwater Awards
- Best News
Third: “When the Head of US Federal Prisons Visited, We Showed Her Tomatoes, Guitars and Skepticism,” Gregory Marcinski - Best Feature
Second: “A White Supremacist Renounces Racism in an Oregon Prison,” by Phillip Luna
Third: “What It Was Like When Hurricane Helene Hit Our Prison,” by K.C. Johnson
2024
2024 Stillwater Awards
- Prison Journalist of the Year
Second Place: Steve Brooks (PJP alumni)
Third Place: Jeffrey McKee - Most Impactful Journalism
First Place: “As a Muslim prisoner in the US, I worry I will be cremated when I die” by Tariq MaQbool - Best Collaboration
First Place: “Tales From a Cell Below ‘The Crazy Unit’” and “The Last Days of Little Eddie” by Josh McGhee and Kory Hussain McClary - Best Feature
First Place: “Inside the Mental Health Unit at Washington State Penitentiary” by Jeffrey McKee
Third Place: “Dreams of Leaving Prison: From Meeting Grandkids to Eating Whatever You Want” by Lexie Handlang - Best Op-Ed
Second Place: “What Caused His PTSD? This Prison, Right Here” by Christopher Monihan
Third Place: “How California’s New Elder Parole Program Still Leaves Many Prisoners Behind” by Artemus Blankenship - Best Illustration
First Place: “The Beetle That Visited a Prisoner Sentenced to Die” by Jessica Garza
Second Place: “The Art Room At My Texas Prison” by Brian Hindson
Third Place: “In Prison, Art Is My Voice” by Elsa Segura
2023
LION Publishers
2023 LION Local Journalism Awards Operational Resilience Award (Medium/Large Tier)
Prison Journalism Project
2022
Institute of Nonprofit News
2022 Community Champion Award
PJP Inside
2022 Nonprofit Newcomer of the Year Honorable Mention
Yukari Kane, PJP CEO
The Society of News Design
2022 Award of Excellence
PJP Inside