WAN-Ifra names global finalists for digital competition

May 05, 2026 at 05:40 pm by admin

With the European and African winners now announced, WAN-Ifra has listed global finalists for its 2026 Digital Media Awards competition.

Fifty global finalists have been named, selected from 278 regional finalists across Europe, Africa, APAC, the Americas, South Asia and the Middle East.

Once again the global shortlist is a testament to the creativity, ambition, and resilience driving digital journalism forward. Spanning 12 categories, these innovators, storytellers, and digital pioneers represent the best of the industry, from bold independent publishers to the world's biggest news brands, across both established and emerging markets. Winners will be announced and honoured during WAN-Ifra’s World Media Congress in Marseilles next month.

Check the links below to view winning work:

Best News Website or App Relaunch

This category recognises outstanding redesigns or relaunches of digital news platforms, including websites and apps, that significantly improve user experience, editorial presentation, performance, and strategic value.

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Best in Countering Disinformation

This category rewards outstanding work that strengthens public understanding and trust by confronting disinformation with transparency, responsiveness, and innovation.

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Best Emerging News Providers

This new category recognises independent news creators or early-stage news organisations that demonstrate credibility, originality, and clear public value. It celebrates creators who consistently produce factual, community-relevant information for digital platforms, particularly in underserved or low-trust information environments.

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Best Reader Revenue Strategy

This category recognises smart subscription and membership strategies that support journalism through long-term loyalty, especially those that are technically sound, editorially strong, and contextually adapted to different markets and audiences.

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Best AI-driven News Product, Format or Strategy

This category recognises innovative, ethical, and fully implemented uses of AI in journalism.

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Best Newsletter

This category honours newsletters as essential journalistic formats that combine voice, service, and strategy to deepen audience relationships and build long-term loyalty, regardless of business model or scale.

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Best in Audience Engagement

This category honours initiatives that build strong, sustained relationships with audiences through intentional, inclusive, and digitally relevant engagement.

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Most Innovative Digital Product

This category recognises a digital product that offers a compelling and effective solution to a specific audience or market need.

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Best Use of Video

This category honours powerful video journalism that makes strong use of the format to serve editorial goals, tell original stories, and engage audiences across digital platforms.

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Best Use of Audio

This category rewards audio journalism that expands storytelling, deepens public understanding, and engages listeners through sound.

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Best Data Visualisation

This category recognises data visualisations that turn complex information into clear, engaging and accessible storytelling.

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Best Marketing Campaign for a News Brand

This category recognises the most impactful marketing campaigns led by news organisations to grow their audience, strengthen brand positioning, or reinforce trust and public value.

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Sections: Digital business