NBC News journalist and “Dateline” anchor Lester Holt speaks with NBC News business and data correspondent Brian Cheung after accepting the Fred Dressler Leadership Award at the 2026 Mirror Awards ceremony. (Photo by Ben Gabbe)
Newhouse School Announces Winners of 2026 Mirror Awards
The University’s announced the winners of the 2026 , which recognize excellence in media industry reporting.
The top prizes were announced Tuesday night at an event in New York City that also featured a conversation with NBC News journalist and “Dateline” anchor Lester Holt, .
Cheryl Wills ’89, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor for Spectrum News NY1, served as master of ceremonies.
Finalists were . Chosen by a panel of journalists and journalism educators, the winners of the juried categories are:
Best Single Article/Story
Jesse Barron
The New York Times Magazine
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Best Profile
Antonia Hitchens
The New Yorker
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Best Commentary
Pamela Alma Weymouth
The Nation Magazine
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Best Media Newsletter
Oliver Darcy
Status
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Special Topic: Best Coverage of the Future of Late-Night Television
Kayla Cobb and Adam Chitwood
TheWrap
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John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting
Josh Dzieza
The Verge
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Additionally, the following were formally presented:
Fred Dressler Leadership Award
NBC News award-winning journalist and “Dateline” anchor
Lorraine Branham Award
About the Mirror Awards
Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the honor the writers, reporters and editors who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public’s benefit. The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators.
