The UNCA Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in journalism, recognizing exceptional media coverage of the United Nations, its agencies, and the most pressing global issues. Since their inception, these awards have honored outstanding work in print, broadcast (TV & radio), and online/web-based media. Each year, the awards provide an opportunity to highlight the important role journalists play in informing the public about the vital work of the UN and its related organizations.

The UNCA Awards feature several key categories, each designed to recognize different forms of journalistic excellence:

The UNCA Awards are open to all journalists and media organizations who have reported on the United Nations. Each year, media outlets are invited to submit entries that showcase their best work in the aforementioned categories. Entries are judged by a panel of esteemed journalists, UN officials, and other leaders in the media industry.