All-formats AP coverage of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, AI-powered election misinformation, prison labor in the food industry and police restraint tactics received five honors in the 2025 National Headliner Awards, including four first-place wins.
AP photojournalist Evan Vucci earned first place and Best in Show in the spot news photography category for his powerful image capturing the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, described by judges as “an iconic image of our time.”
Lethal Restraint, a collaboration between AP, PBS Frontline and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, earned first place and Best in Show in the online investigative reporting for digital partnerships category. The series uncovered the deadly impact of dangerous police restraint tactics, with judges noting its “haunting presentation” and “singular and memorable” writing.
AP also earned top prizes in the political coverage and newspaper series categories for its reporting on AI-powered election misinformation and its series revealing the link between prison labor and popular food brands, as well as a second-place award for newspaper feature writing by an individual in a top 20 media market, recognizing AP reporter Bianca Vázquez Toness for her coverage of the migrant experience in America.
View all the winners here.
