Reuters Journalists Recognized with First Pamela Tobey Award for Visual Storytelling Excellence

On November 13, 2025, the prestigious Pamela Tobey Award for Excellence in Visual Storytelling was presented to a team of journalists from Reuters, marking a significant milestone in the recognition of outstanding visual journalism. This award is administered by the National Press Club Journalism Institute and celebrates innovative storytelling through meticulous design and compelling visuals. The inaugural winners received a cash prize of $1,000 for their exemplary work.

The award-winning project, titled "The Unexploded Bombs of Gaza," features contributions from esteemed journalists Emma Farge, Adolfo Arranz, Han Huang, Simon Scarr, and Nidal al-Mughrabi. The judges lauded their work for its effective blend of illustrations, photography, data, and text, skillfully utilizing motion and design to impart a powerful narrative. The project’s focus on both the human aspects and data-driven storytelling renders it a poignant exploration of the risks posed by unexploded ordnance in Gaza.

Scarr, who serves as the deputy global graphics editor at Reuters, emphasized the significance of this project, stating, "The risk of unexploded ordnance in Gaza is both a data story and a deeply human one. Our team integrated precise technical graphic elements with emotional imagery that paints a vivid picture of the dangers civilians face daily. This award reinforces our belief that effective visual storytelling harmonizes accuracy with emotional depth."

The judging panel—comprised of Pamela Tobey, a retired graphics editor from The Washington Post; Chris Alcantara, a visual journalist at ProPublica; and Hannah Dormido, a graphics reporter at The Washington Post—found the quality of submissions to be impressive. Alongside the Reuters project, two runners-up were also acknowledged for their notable entries. These included an impactful piece from The Philadelphia Inquirer titled "The Northeast Philly Plane Crash Changed Five Neighbors' Lives Forever" and a study by ProPublica on global water supplies threatened by overmining aquifers.

Pamela Tobey expressed her admiration for all entries, commenting, "This year’s award submissions showcased incredible examples of the power of visual storytelling. I am grateful to have the opportunity to honor such impactful work. The Reuters team’s project was exceptional from its informational content to its illustrations, making decisive design choices that helped convey essential information in a meaningful way."

The establishment of the Pamela Tobey Award is made possible by an endowment from Tobey and her husband Rick Dunham, both of whom have strong ties to the National Press Club. They contributed an initial $20,000, with plans to increase the endowment to $50,000 in the coming years. Their commitment not only recognizes groundbreaking visual journalism but also supports training initiatives aimed at enhancing journalists' skills in design and storytelling.

Additional contributions from the Calvert K. Collins Family Foundation, totaling $10,000, further support the award’s launch and ongoing efforts to celebrate excellence in visual storytelling.

For those interested in supporting the Pamela Tobey Award for Excellence in Visual Storytelling, donations up to $5,000 made before December 31, 2025, will be matched by Mr. Dunham, amplifying the effort to recognize and promote outstanding visual journalism.

This recognition reaffirms the vital role that visual storytelling plays in journalism today, celebrating the artists and storytellers who craft compelling narratives through innovative visual compositions.