George Polk Awards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Polk Awards in Journalism
Presented by	Long Island University
Country	United States
First awarded	1949

The George Polk Awards in Journalism are special honors given each year to journalists in the United States. These awards celebrate excellent work in both print (like newspapers) and broadcast (like TV and radio) news. Long Island University in New York presents these awards. Many people think they are among the most important awards a journalist can receive.

For over 75 years, these awards have recognized brave and important reporting. They focus on investigative work. This means reporters dig deep to find facts and tell stories that make people think.

History of the Awards

How the Awards Started

The George Polk Awards began in 1949. They were created to remember George Polk. He was a brave reporter for CBS News. George Polk was killed in March 1948 while he was reporting on a war in Greece. The awards honor his courage and dedication to finding the truth.

Important Moments in Recent Years

In 2008, a website called Talking Points Memo made history. It was the first blog to ever win a Polk Award. This award recognized its important reporting on a big news story about government officials.

In 2009, John Darnton became the person in charge of the George Polk Awards. He used to be an editor at The New York Times newspaper.

In 2024, The New York Times received three Polk Awards. These awards were for their excellent reporting on the war between Israel and Hamas.

What Kinds of Reporting Win Awards?

There is also a special award called the George Polk Career Award. This award honors someone who has done amazing journalism work throughout their entire life.

See also

In Spanish: Premio George Polk para niños