The National Media Awards Foundation is pleased to announce the lineup of categories for the 2021 Digital Publishing Awards. Our program for 2021 features 24 categories, including expanding the Best Podcast award into two separate categories and introducing a new category, Best Virtual Event, to better reflect the content being produced by the industry.
We’re also pleased to introduce a new, cross-programming initiative. For the categories highlighted below, we welcome the work of National Magazine Awards and National Magazine Awards: B2B participants, in addition to Digital Publishing Awards participants. Entries in each category will be evaluated by a single panel of judges, and winners will be announced across all three programs. Here’s the full lineup:
Best Digital Editorial Package
Best Column
Best News Coverage (Community Publication)
Best News Coverage
Best Feature Article
Best Feature Article: Short
Best Feature Article: Long
Best Personal Essay
Best Arts & Culture Storytelling
Best Science & Technology Storytelling
Best Service Feature
Best Online Video: Short
Best Online Video: Feature
Best Online Video: Mini-Doc
Best Podcast: News & Politics
Best Podcast: Arts & Culture
Best Digital Design
Best Photo Storytelling
Best Social Storytelling
Best Editorial Newsletter
Innovation in Digital Storytelling
Best Virtual Event
Emerging Excellence Award
Digital Publishing Leadership Award
General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small, Medium, and Large Publications
If you’re interested in submitting to the 2021 DPAs, please note that the call for entries opens on December 22, 2020 and closes on January 29, 2021. To save on fees, get your entries in by the early bird deadline of January 22, 2021.
Our Freelancer Support Fund will be available once again this year, ensuring that the Digital Publishing Awards recognize the best work from a broad range of Canadian creators.
The day has arrived! At 4pm ET, the winners of the 2020 Digital Publishing Awards will be unveiled in a livestream digital presentation on Twitter.com/DPAwards and you can follow along here on digitalpublishingawards.ca.
Be sure to keep refreshing this page to see live updates starting from 4pm ET. We are looking forward to sharing all the exciting news with you, your friends and colleagues.
If you’re hosting a watch party with Zoom or other video conferencing tools, or you’re a DPA winner, we want to hear from you!
Send us your photos, videos or speeches by email at staff@magazine-awards.com or tag us on Twitter @DPAwards or on Facebook @DPAwards. We will share your tweets, posts and videos here on our live blog and on our social media channels.
[5:20pm] That concludes our Winners Celebration! Thank you to everyone for joining us and a huge congratulations to the outstanding winners and finalists of the 2020 Digital Publishing Awards!
[5:16] Closing out the #DPA20 Winners Celebration, the nominees and winners of General Excellence: Large Publication…
These three finalists live up to their editorial mandate, meet high journalistic standards, and serve their intended audience by taking full advantage of the opportunities digital mediums offer.
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[5:09pm] We’re down to the final award! General Excellence is split into 3 divisions honouring publications that live up to their editorial mandate, meet high journalistic standards, and serve their intended audience by taking full advantage of the opportunities digital mediums offer.
First up, let’s see who takes home the gold in the small publication division…
Drum roll please! Here are the #DPA20 finalists and winner for General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small Publication… pic.twitter.com/t6FyQwxFCW
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[5:05pm] Let’s take a look at Innovation in Digital Storytelling…
The next #DPA20 award honours an innovative digital creation, project or concept that leverages data-driven technology or design to enhance the storytelling, and the audience engagement or experience. The projects nominated for Innovation in Digital Storytelling are: pic.twitter.com/2l6nzBd3gj
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
"Voitures autonomes : qui sauver, qui sacrifier" de @RadioCanadaInfo remporte la médaille d'or dans la catégorie Innovation de l’année #DPA20. Félicitations ! https://t.co/oNF3KrqQPh
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[5:00pm] Check out this excellent work nominated in Best Digital Design…
This #DPA20 award honours the digital publication with the most successful and original overall combination of visual and graphic design elements with functionality and user experience. Let’s take a look at the nominated and winning projects for Best Digital Design… pic.twitter.com/X1zjVgJ0p6
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
Le lauréat de la médaille d'or dans la catégorie Meilleure conception numérique #DPA20 est @LeDevoir pour "Décryptage de l'affaire SNC-Lavalin". Félicitations aux créateurs : @Ameli9 et @antbeland ! https://t.co/BKeQXClqEg
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:58pm] Next up, Best Podcast…
Our next category honours the podcast series that best serves its intended audience. Judges considered the originality of the theme and the quality of production, as well as creative use of the podcasting or audio medium. And the finalists in #DPA20 Best Podcast are… pic.twitter.com/sZDb9u8SAB
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:55] We have a tie for gold in Best Editorial Newsletter!
And now, let’s have a look at the finalists and TIED gold winners for Best Editorial Newsletter. This #DPA20 category honours the outstanding work of an editorial team in creating original and engaging content via a regular email series… pic.twitter.com/VMQIsQswcd
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:50pm] Now onto Best Social Storytelling… let’s see who takes home the gold…
The Best Social Storytelling award honours the publication that most successfully tells a story using one or more social media platforms. Storytelling elements may include text, audio, video, photographs, illustrations, infographics & design elements. The #DPA20 finalists are… pic.twitter.com/LtOXxccu7J
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:48pm] The next award recognizes outstanding use of photography to tell a story, including photojournalism, photo essay, photo galleries, conceptual photography and photo-illustration. Now revealing the #DPA20 winners in Best Photo Storytelling…
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:46pm] Best Online Mini-Doc is next, check out these outstanding nominees and winners…
On now to our next and last video category: Mini-Doc, will go the best entry in terms of overall quality of video production, including videography and video editing. Now unveiling the #DPA20 winners in Best Online Video: Mini-Doc…. pic.twitter.com/QEjVicBle1
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:42pm] Let’s take a look at Best Online Video: Feature…
And now, Best Online Video: Feature, an award recognizing creative excellence in the production of a video by a digital publisher that is between 4 and 6 minutes in length. Here are the shortlisted videos and the #DPA20 winners… pic.twitter.com/nHxnl3F9bw
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
"On brûle encore des déchets dans la nord du Québec" de @Tabloidco remporte la médaille d'or dans la catégorie Meilleure vidéo en ligne – format long #DPA20. Félicitations ! https://t.co/PI4UeHgwi3
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:40pm] Now presenting Best Online Video: Short …
Next up is an award that honours creative excellence in the production of a video by a digital publisher that is less than 4 minutes in length. And the #DPA20 nominees and winner for Best Online Video: Short is… pic.twitter.com/bMbW34mG1E
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
Nous avons l'honneur d'annoncer que @ONfr_TFO remporte la médaille d'or dans la catégorie Meilleure vidéo en ligne – format court #DPA20. Félicitations ! https://t.co/HtxXIoNxJr
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:36pm] Next up is Best Science & Technology Storytelling…
The next category honours the best overall story dealing with issues or subjects of science or technology, including investigative reporting, analysis and profiles. Here are the #DPA20 winners in Best Science & Technology Storytelling…. pic.twitter.com/5eEqn382GR
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
The gold winner in the #DPA20 Best Science and Technology Storytelling is "Are you a distracted driver? Probably. Here's why" by @globeandmail. Congratulations! https://t.co/vumAxnO7Hi
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:34pm] Best Arts & Culture Storytelling honours go to…
The #DPA20 finalists and winners for Best Arts & Culture Storytelling–honouring an outstanding piece that deals with issues or subjects of arts, culture, or entertainment–are… pic.twitter.com/1WEECHmuYE
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:30pm] Let’s take a look at the Best Service Feature nominees and winners!
The Best Service Feature award honours a story that focuses on topics like travel, recreation and lifestyle, careers and personal finance, education or family and health, with an emphasis on excellence in writing, reporting and packaging of content. Here are your #DPA20 finalists pic.twitter.com/hHI06EYQ57
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
It is our honour to announce that @globeandmail 's "Hidden Canada" is a gold winner in the #DPA20 Best Service Feature category. Congratulations! https://t.co/wha3hsYrl8
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:26pm] Next up is Best Personal Essay – be sure to bookmark these great reads!
The next #DPA20 award this afternoon is Best Personal Essay, which honours the best overall story in which the writer’s perspective and/or personal experience is the main focus. pic.twitter.com/gAER6MsSy7
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
Here’s Joseph Tunney @TunneyTun, accepting his Gold award in Best Personal Essay for "What It’s Like to See the World Through a Lazy Eye" published in @walrusmagazine — congrats! pic.twitter.com/ZFAVj3t4xb
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
Oh my goodness. I am simply floored right now. I’m am so honoured. Thank you! https://t.co/X2CV9ckTwb
[4:24pm] Let’s take a look at the nominees and winners in Best Feature Article: Long…
This category recognizes the best overall story of 4001+ words in terms of overall quality of writing. Reporting, personal essays, criticism, reviews and other non-fiction genres are eligible for this award. Here are the nominees and winners for Best Feature Article: Long… pic.twitter.com/C5uIBr1JJ4
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Justine de l'Église (@justinedeleg) May 27, 2020
[4:22pm] Best Feature Article coming up…
New this year, this category honours a feature story between 2001 to 4000 words. Here are your #DPA20 nominees and winners in Best Feature Article… pic.twitter.com/3rMxYG1jj1
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
The #DPA20 gold in Best Feature Article goes to “How the RCMP found Canada’s most wanted fugitives with a raven, a Cree trapper and luck” by @RenataDAliesio and @MelTait of the @globeandmail. Congratulations!
[4:20pm] Now presenting Best Feature Article: Short
Now, onto the next category: Best Feature Article: Short. This category honours the best feature story of 2,000 words or less, and of any non-fiction genres. The outstanding #DPA20 nominees are: pic.twitter.com/nCbsDgxogj
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
Thanks, @DPAwards ! An honour to have this story recognized, especially right now when the extreme sacrifices and lack of support, recognition and fair pay for personal support workers are more apparent than ever. Thanks @nickhunebrown, my first ever and still favourite editor. https://t.co/dc5MnMSyqY
[4:15pm] Let’s see who the #DPA20 Best Column gold medal goes to…
Moving along, here's an award which recognizes the body of a work of a single columnist. Let’s take a look at the finalists and winners in Best Column… pic.twitter.com/fCKsHG28ST
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:12pm] Best News Coverage: Community Publication is announced!
Here's Best News Coverage: Community Publication. This award goes to a small, local digital publication that best serves its audience through timely, original reporting on any topic or event of local, provincial, national or international significance. The #DPA20 nominees are… pic.twitter.com/Eb4V8bzUWm
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:10pm] Let’s see who takes home Best News Coverage…
Up next are your #DPA20 nominees and winners in Best News Coverage. This award honours excellence in news reporting of a single topic or event based on the enterprise and skill of the reporter or team of reporters, including insightful analysis and compelling narrative. pic.twitter.com/LceY3oZvRX
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
We are pleased to announce that "Thunder Bay" from @globeandmail wins gold in #DPA20 Best News Coverage. Congratulations! Read the meaningful and in-depth coverage here ⤵️ https://t.co/gN1JZCNBph
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:05pm] Best Digital Editorial Package is presented!
Our next #DPA20 award honours the outstanding and collaborative work of an editorial team in creating an original series of related or thematic editorial content that best serves its audience, let's take a look at Best Digital Editorial Package… pic.twitter.com/oMoMt3itPe
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
[4:00pm] And we’re off! The 5th Annual Digital Publishing Awards open with words from our 2020 Digital Publishing Leadership award winner, Dmitry Beniaminov.
This award is generously sponsored by the Reader’s Digest Foundation @ReadersDigestCA, a charity dedicated to the development of Canadian journalism, and supporting journalists and creators. Thank you!
In April 2020, Dmitry @Beniaminov was named recipient of the Leadership Award, sponsored by the @ReadersDigestCA. It is the Digital Publishing Awards' highest individual distinction. Here are his words of thanks. pic.twitter.com/b74qxlpe6E
— Digital Publishing Awards (@DPAwards) May 27, 2020
We’re officially accepting entries for the 2020 Digital Publishing Awards, recognizing the best of Canada’s digital publishing content. This year, the awards are composed of 23 distinct categories, including one new category—Best Feature Article. Note that the early bird deadline is January 16th, and the final deadline is January 23rd.
Freelancer Support Fund
Freelance writers, designers, videographers, podcasters, photographers and illustrators who enter their own work for consideration can take advantage of our Freelancer Support Fund. Simply submit two entries, select “Freelancer Support Fund” at the payment stage, and within 24 hours we’ll send you a revised invoice reflecting the buy-one-get-one-free discount.
Rules and Judging
Prior to submitting entries, please be sure to review the DPA Rules, which include useful info on eligible content and publications. Importantly, to be eligible for the DPAs, a digital publication must have a permanent editorial staff in Canada, and be published in either English, French, or both languages. Publications do not need to be exclusively digital to be eligible.
Interested in reviewing judging procedures? Visit our DPA Judging Process page.
Submissions and Deadlines
The submissions process is completely digital—visit submissions.digitalpublishingawards.ca to enter. Submit before January 16th, the early bird deadline, and pay only $110 for your entries. After that, submissions are $125 and must be received by January 23rd.
Nominations for the Emerging Excellence Award and the Digital Publishing Award will be open until March 2nd, 2020. (For submissions made between January 24th to March 2nd, please email them to info@digitalpublishingawards.ca).
Soirée
All #DPA20 winners will be presented at the spring soirée, with details announced in early 2020. To stay in the loop, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
At the Digital Publishing Awards, we’re excited to announce the newly-revised lineup of 23 categories for 2020. This year, we’re introducing Best Feature Article, a complement to the two other feature article categories. We’ve also refined the video lengths for the Best Online Video categories, to better reflect the content being produced by the industry. Here’s the full line-up:
Best Digital Editorial Package
Best Column
Best News Coverage (Community Publication)
Best News Coverage
Best Feature Article *NEW*
Best Feature Article: Short
Best Feature Article: Long
Best Personal Essay
Best Arts & Culture Storytelling
Best Science & Technology Storytelling
Best Service Feature
Best Online Video: Short
Best Online Video: Feature
Best Online Video: Mini-Doc
Best Podcast
Best Digital Design
Best Photo Storytelling
Best Social Storytelling
Best Editorial Newsletter
Innovation in Digital Storytelling
Emerging Excellence Award
Digital Publishing Leadership Award
General Excellence in Digital Publishing: Small, Medium, and Large Publications
The call for entries opens on December 9, 2019 and closes on January 23rd, 2020 at midnight ET. To save on entry fees, get your submissions in by January 16, 2020, the early bird deadline. Freelancers, you’ll be pleased to know that we’re once again offering the Freelancer Support Fund for independent writers and creators!
Call for Judges
Want to judge for the DPAs? We’re now welcoming applications. Please send an email to info@digitalpublishingawards.ca with a few sentences outlining your professional experience. For further information on the process, visit our How to be a Juror page.
Ideal candidates should fulfill one or more of the following criteria:
Internationally renowned journalist, editor, designer or other expert with an interest in supporting the NMAF fulfill its mission;
Editor, art director, publisher, web editor or other staff member (past or present) of a Canadian magazine, whether or not your publication participates in the National Magazine Awards, Digital Publishing Awards, or National Magazine Awards: B2B;
Freelance or staff writer, illustrator, photographer or digital creator, where a significant portion of your work is in Canadian publications (especially if you have been nominated for or won a National Magazine Award, Digital Publishing Award, or National Magazine Award: B2B yourself);
Journalist (print, broadcast, digital) with expertise in a particular field represented by one or more NMA, DPA, or NMA: B2B categories (such as photojournalism, service, arts & culture, fiction, poetry, etc);
Academic or industry leader with expertise in a particular field;
Professionals and leadersfrom related cultural sectors, including the visual arts (film and television), the literary arts (book writing & publishing) and the performing arts (theatre, music);
Bilingual: Not all of our judges need be bilingual, but all awards juries will have at least one bilingual member.
We welcome applications from individuals who bring different industry perspectives – from recognized leaders to celebrated emerging talents. We also aim for the judging panels to reflect our country’s diverse Indigenous, cultural, and regional communities.
Judging will take place during February and March 2020. For more information, or to nominate a peer to the jury, contact us at info@digitalpublishingawards.ca
