Columbia Journalism School announced the 15 winners of the 2026 duPont-Columbia Awards during a special ceremony on Jan. 28, highlighting outstanding audio and video reporting in the public interest across platforms. Scott Pelley, CBS News 60 Minutes Correspondent and Michel Martin, Host of NPR’s Morning Edition, presented the awards at The Lee C. Bollinger Forum at Columbia University. The 90-minute duPont Awards ceremony, often referred to as the “Pulitzers of broadcast,” is available to watch at www.dupont.org.
Addressing the audience, Pelley said, “It is gratifying to see journalists continue to thrive despite one of the most hostile times our profession has faced in America. And haven’t we seen the critical importance of the First Amendment? Citizen reporters recording the mayhem in Minneapolis. In this moment, when federal police hide behind masks and top officials rush to lie to the American people. The simple, but courageous act of recording the truth has prevailed.”
Later in the evening, Martin’s remarks included a request.
“Can we also remember that journalism is fun? It’s fun. Even with all the very serious, sometimes heartbreaking stories we are honoring tonight, telling stories is fun. Speaking truth to power is fun. Look, some people can go to work their entire lives and never get up in the morning saying to themselves, ‘I made a difference, I got to do something I love and something that matters,’ and that is fun. So, tonight, thank you for your hard work. Thanks for doing hard things. But can you also remember to have some fun? You deserve it.”
Read the full announcement at https://dupont.org/2026-dupont-press-release.
