The Online News Association (ONA) and the University of Miami's School of Communication (in Miami, Florida, the United States) invite entries for the Online Journalism Awards (OJAs). The prizes awarded total US$30,000, courtesy of the Gannett Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The OJAs honour excellence in digital journalism. Past winners have included major media, international and independent sites, and individuals producing innovative work in multimedia storytelling. The OJAs are open to work first published between June 1 2008 and June 30 2009. Applicants are invited to enter their submissions in one or more of the following categories:

• The Gannett Foundation Award for Technical Innovation in the Service of Digital Journalism honours a person or company that has built a digital tool that significantly enhances the practice of online journalism.
• The Knight Award for Public Service recognises digital journalism that performs a public service for a geographic community through compelling coverage of a vital community issue or event.
• General Excellence in Online Journalism honours a website in each of four size categories, plus two from the non-English speaking community, which successfully fulfill their editorial mission, effectively serve their audience, maximise the use of the Web's characteristics, and represent the highest journalistic standards.
• Breaking News honours digital coverage over a 72-hour period of a breaking-news event or development.
• Specialty Site Journalism recognises niche websites that focus on a single topic.
• Investigative Journalism honours stories that uncover major news based on the reporters' own exclusive investigations or that offer compelling and original analysis and interpretation.
• Multimedia Feature Presentation awards excellence in telling a story to an online audience using multimedia techniques.
• Online Topical Reporting/Blogging recognises beat reporting by an individual or team.
• Online Commentary/Blogging honours a unique and powerful voice of commentary original to the web.
• Community Collaboration Award recognises a news project or website that produces outstanding journalism through strong interaction with the community being served.
• Outstanding Use of Digital Technologies recognises achievement by a site in the use of digital techniques to tell a story and serve a community.
• Online Video Journalism awards excellence in online-originated video journalism.
• Student Journalism honours digital journalism by a student or team reporting on a single story or issue.

Click here for more information.

Click here to read about previous winners.

ONA website on April 16 2009.