Skip to main content

Breaking News Photography

For a distinguished example of breaking news photography, which may be a single photograph or series of photographs of an event that occurs with no advance notice and requires spontaneous coverage in the moment, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
Year
Winners
Finalists
2025

Doug Mills of The New York Times

For a sequence of photos of the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, including one image that captures a bullet whizzing through the air as he speaks.
Finalists:
Photography Staff of Agence France-Presse
Nanna Heitmann, contributor, Tyler Hicks, David Guttenfelder and Nicole Tung, contributor, of The New York Times
Photography Staff of Agence France-Presse

Nanna Heitmann, contributor, Tyler Hicks, David Guttenfelder and Nicole Tung, contributor, of The New York Times

2024

Photography Staff of Reuters

For raw and urgent photographs documenting the October 7th deadly attack in Israel by Hamas and the first weeks of Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza.
Finalists:
Adem Altan of Agence France-Presse
Nicole S. Hester of The Tennessean
Adem Altan of Agence France-Presse

Nicole S. Hester of The Tennessean

2023

Photography Staff of Associated Press

For unique and urgent images from the first weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the devastation of Mariupol after other news organizations left, victims of the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the resilience of the Ukrainian people who were able to flee.
Finalists:
Lynsey Addario of The New York Times
Rafiq Maqbool and Eranga Jayawardena of Associated Press
Lynsey Addario of The New York Times

Rafiq Maqbool and Eranga Jayawardena of Associated Press

2022

Marcus Yam of the Los Angeles Times

For raw and urgent images of the U.S. departure from Afghanistan that capture the human cost of the historic change in the country. (Moved from Feature Photography by the jury.)

Win McNamee, Drew Angerer, Spencer Platt, Samuel Corum and Jon Cherry of Getty Images

For comprehensive and consistently riveting photos of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Finalists:
Anonymous, freelance contributor, The New York Times
Anonymous, freelance contributor, The New York Times

2021

Photography Staff of Associated Press

For a collection of photographs from multiple U.S. cities that cohesively captures the country's response to the death of George Floyd.
Finalists:
Joshua Irwandi, freelance photographer, National Geographic
Hassan Ammar, Hussein Malla and Felipe Dana of Associated Press
Joshua Irwandi, freelance photographer, National Geographic

Hassan Ammar, Hussein Malla and Felipe Dana of Associated Press

2020

Photography Staff of Reuters

For wide-ranging and illuminating photographs of Hong Kong as citizens protested infringement of their civil liberties and defended the region’s autonomy by the Chinese government.
Finalists:
Tom Fox of The Dallas Morning News
Dieu Nalio Chery and Rebecca Blackwell of Associated Press
Tom Fox of The Dallas Morning News

Dieu Nalio Chery and Rebecca Blackwell of Associated Press

2019

Photography Staff of Reuters

For a vivid and startling visual narrative of the urgency, desperation and sadness of migrants as they journeyed to the U.S. from Central and South America.
Finalists:
Photography Staff of Associated Press
Noah Berger, John Locher and Ringo H. W. Chiu of Associated Press
Photography Staff of Associated Press

Noah Berger, John Locher and Ringo H. W. Chiu of Associated Press

2018

Ryan Kelly of The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Va.

For a chilling image that reflected the photographer’s reflexes and concentration in capturing the moment of impact of a car attack during a racially charged protest in Charlottesville, Va.
Finalists:
Ivor Prickett, freelance photographer, The New York Times
Ivor Prickett, freelance photographer, The New York Times

2017

Daniel Berehulak, freelance photographer

For powerful storytelling through images published in The New York Times showing the callous disregard for human life in the Philippines brought about by a government assault on drug dealers and users. (Moved into this category from Feature Photography by the nominating jury.)
Finalists:
Photography Staff of the Associated Press
Jonathan Bachman, freelance photographer
Photography Staff of the Associated Press

Jonathan Bachman, freelance photographer

2016

Mauricio Lima, Sergey Ponomarev, Tyler Hicks and Daniel Etter of The New York Times

For photographs that captured the resolve of refugees, the perils of their journeys and the struggle of host countries to take them in.

Photography Staff of Reuters

For gripping photographs, each with its own voice, that follow migrant refugees hundreds of miles across uncertain boundaries to unknown destinations.
Finalists:
Andrew Burton, Chip Somodevilla, Patrick Smith and Drew Angerer of Getty Images
Andrew Burton, Chip Somodevilla, Patrick Smith and Drew Angerer of Getty Images

2015

Photography Staff of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For powerful images of the despair and anger in Ferguson, MO, stunning photojournalism that served the community while informing the country.
Finalists:
Mauricio Lima, Sergey Ponomarev and Uriel Sinai of The New York Times
Tyler Hicks, Sergey Ponomarev and Wissam Nassar of The New York Times
Mauricio Lima, Sergey Ponomarev and Uriel Sinai of The New York Times

Tyler Hicks, Sergey Ponomarev and Wissam Nassar of The New York Times

2014

Tyler Hicks of The New York Times

For his compelling pictures that showed skill and bravery in documenting the unfolding terrorist attack at Westgate mall in Kenya.
Finalists:
John Tlumacki and David L. Ryan of The Boston Globe
Goran Tomasevic of Reuters
John Tlumacki and David L. Ryan of The Boston Globe

Goran Tomasevic of Reuters

2013

Rodrigo Abd, Manu Brabo, Narciso Contreras, Khalil Hamra and Muhammed Muheisen of Associated Press

For their compelling coverage of the civil war in Syria, producing memorable images under extreme hazard.
Finalists:
Staff of The Denver Post
Tyler Hicks of The New York Times
Staff of The Denver Post

Tyler Hicks of The New York Times

2012

Massoud Hossaini of Agence France-Presse

For his heartbreaking image of a girl crying in fear after a suicide bomber's attack at a crowded shrine in Kabul.
Finalists:
Carolyn Cole and Brian van der Brug of the Los Angeles Times
John Moore, Peter Macdiarmid and the late Chris Hondros of Getty Images
Carolyn Cole and Brian van der Brug of the Los Angeles Times

John Moore, Peter Macdiarmid and the late Chris Hondros of Getty Images

2011

Carol Guzy, Nikki Kahn and Ricky Carioti of The Washington Post

For their up-close portrait of grief and desperation after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti.
Finalists:
Daniel Berehulak and Paula Bronstein of Getty Images
Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times
Daniel Berehulak and Paula Bronstein of Getty Images

Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times

2010

Mary Chind of The Des Moines Register

For her photograph of the heart-stopping moment when a rescuer dangling in a makeshift harness tries to save a woman trapped in the foaming water beneath a dam.
Finalists:
Staff of Associated Press
Staff of New York Daily News
Staff of Associated Press

Staff of New York Daily News

2009

Patrick Farrell of The Miami Herald

For his provocative, impeccably composed images of despair after Hurricane Ike and other lethal storms caused a humanitarian disaster in Haiti.
Finalists:
Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times
Staff of Associated Press
Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times

Staff of Associated Press

2008

Adrees Latif of Reuters

For his dramatic photograph of a Japanese videographer, sprawled on the pavement, fatally wounded during a street demonstration in Myanmar.
Finalists:
Mahmud Hams of Agence France-Presse
Staff of Los Angeles Times
Mahmud Hams of Agence France-Presse

Staff of Los Angeles Times

2007

Oded Balilty of Associated Press

For his powerful photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.
Finalists:
Staff of Associated Press
Michael Bryant of The Philadelphia Inquirer
Staff of Associated Press

Michael Bryant of The Philadelphia Inquirer

2006

Staff of The Dallas Morning News

For its vivid photographs depicting the chaos and pain after Hurricane Katrina engulfed New Orleans.
Finalists:
Carolyn Cole and Brian Vander Brug of Los Angeles Times
Eric Gay of Associated Press
Carolyn Cole and Brian Vander Brug of Los Angeles Times

Eric Gay of Associated Press

2005

Staff of Associated Press

For its stunning series of photographs of bloody yearlong combat inside Iraqi cities.
Finalists:
Arko Datta of Reuters
Staff of Palm Beach Post
Arko Datta of Reuters

Staff of Palm Beach Post

2004

David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer of The Dallas Morning News

For their eloquent photographs depicting both the violence and poignancy of the war with Iraq.
Finalists:
Staff of Associated Press
Chris Hondros of Getty Images
Staff of Associated Press

Chris Hondros of Getty Images

2003

Photography Staff of Rocky Mountain News

For its powerful, imaginative coverage of Colorado's raging forest fires.
Finalists:
Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times
Photography Staff of The Washington Times
Carolyn Cole of Los Angeles Times

Photography Staff of The Washington Times

2002

Staff of The New York Times

For its consistently outstanding photographic coverage of the terrorist attack on New York City and its aftermath.
Finalists:
Thomas E. Franklin of The Record, Hackensack, NJ
Tyler Hicks and James Hill of The New York Times
Thomas E. Franklin of The Record, Hackensack, NJ

Tyler Hicks and James Hill of The New York Times

2001

Alan Diaz of Associated Press

For his photograph of armed U.S. federal agents seizing the Cuban boy Elián Gonzalez from his relatives' Miami home.
Finalists:
Chris Gerald of Agence France-Presse
Rachel Ritchie of Providence Journal
Chris Gerald of Agence France-Presse

Rachel Ritchie of Providence Journal

2000

Photo Staff of Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO

For its powerful collection of emotional images taken after the student shootings at Columbine High School.
Finalists:
Lacy Atkins of San Francisco Examiner
Photo Staff of The Seattle Times
Lacy Atkins of San Francisco Examiner

Photo Staff of The Seattle Times

Editorial Cartooning
Feature Photography