The entire Class of 2025 and their instructors wearing gowns and special occasion outfits in front of a brown shingled building and green trees.

UC Berkeley Journalism Distinguished Alumni Awards

An annual program recognizing the incredible achievements of our alumni community and the impact they have made through their Berkeley Journalism education.

The next nomination deadline is May 1, 2026.
The 2026 award recipients will be announced publicly in early fall 2026. 

 

Award Categories

A person wearing protective beekeeping clothing and gloves holds a video camera with a microphone attached. They are smiling and standing outdoors in an orchard with rows of blooming trees extending into the background, embodying the hands-on approach of Berkeley Journalism students in their fieldwork.

Alum of the Year

 

This award recognizes an alum who demonstrates exceptional excellence and has made significant contributions to the field of journalism, communications, public service, or any other field that exemplifies the core values and skills gained from their Berkeley Journalism education.

Nomination Form

Camera person aboard a boat in Antarctica shoots toward the sea and snow covered mountains

Recent Graduate Award

 

This award recognizes an alum who graduated within the last decade and has made notable professional accomplishments and demonstrated exceptional impact early in their careers.

Nomination Form

african american woman journalis operating a camera

International Alum Award

 

This award recognizes an alum who has demonstrated exceptional excellence and made significant contributions to the field of journalism while residing and working outside the United States.

Nomination Form



A person with long hair is using a camera with a large telephoto lens at night, possibly for the Creator Labs Photo Fund. They are wearing a black outfit and a red scarf. The background is dark, with faint outlines of trees visible, reminiscent of Wesaam Al-Badry’s style.

Volunteer Service Award

This award recognizes an alum who is highly dedicated to Berkeley Journalism through acts of volunteer service such as supporting students, philanthropic giving or building the alumni community.

Nomination Form



Program Rules and Information

General eligibility:

Any person who graduated with a Bachelors of Journalism or a Masters of Journalism is eligible for a Berkeley Journalism Distinguished Alumni Award.

Nomination rules:

Nominations are open to anyone.
Alums may self-nominate for any award.
Nominees may be nominated in more than one category.
All nominations must be submitted through the category-specific online nomination forms.
For the 2026 award period, nominations must be submitted by 11:59 pm May 1, 2026.
Award recipients may not be repeat winners in the same category.

Selection process:

Staff role: Berkeley Journalism staff will compile all nominations verbatim into a summary document for review.
Review: The Berkeley Journalism Volunteer Alumni Advisory Committee (BJVAAC) will review the submissions for Alum of the Year, Recent Graduate Award and International Alum Award Award and make recommendations to the dean’s Executive Committee. The Volunteer Service Award submissions will be reviewed directly by the dean’s Executive Committee.
Final decision: The dean’s Executive Committee makes the final determination of award recipients.

Awards and notification:

Award: Recipients will receive a $1000 honorarium.
Notification: Recipients will be notified of their award in late summer 2026.
Public recognition: Winners will be announced via newsletters, social media and archived on our website.