S.F. Chronicle Photographers and Editors Honored in Top Photojournalism Contests

The newspaper's visual journalists recognized for their work covering sports, features, and community issues.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The San Francisco Chronicle was honored with multiple awards in the National Press Photographers Association's Best of Photojournalism contest and the Pictures of the Year International competition. Chronicle photographers and editors were recognized for their exceptional work across a range of categories, including sports, feature stories, and online visual presentations.

Why it matters

The recognition from these prestigious photojournalism contests underscores the Chronicle's commitment to visual storytelling and its role in documenting the people, events, and issues that shape the San Francisco Bay Area community. The awards highlight the talent and dedication of the newspaper's visual journalists, who strive to capture the region's diversity, challenges, and triumphs through their powerful imagery.

The details

In the Best of Photojournalism contest, the Chronicle won five first-place awards, including Sports Photojournalist of the Year for Scott Strazzante and top honors in several picture editing categories for Nicole Frugé. The newspaper's work on the Klamath River dam removal and the story of Austin Draper, a young man struggling with addiction, were also recognized. In the Pictures of the Year International competition, Chronicle photographers Brontë Wittpenn and Gabrielle Lurie received finalist nods, with Wittpenn being a finalist for the prestigious Local Photographer of the Year award.

  • The Best of Photojournalism awards were given in February 2026.
  • The Pictures of the Year International competition results were announced in early 2026.

The players

Scott Strazzante

A recently retired Chronicle photographer who was named Sports Photojournalist of the Year for his portfolio of images capturing major sporting events and intimate community stories.

Nicole Frugé

The Chronicle's Director of Visuals, who won multiple first-place awards for her picture editing work, including on the story of Austin Draper, a young man struggling with addiction.

Brontë Wittpenn

A Chronicle photographer who was a finalist for the prestigious Local Photographer of the Year award in the Pictures of the Year International competition for her portfolio of images documenting the underinsurance crisis, the Klamath River dam removal, and a Yurok family's quest to free the river.

Gabrielle Lurie

A Chronicle photographer who previously won the Local Photographer of the Year award in the Pictures of the Year International competition from 2021 to 2023.

Emily Jan

The Chronicle's Deputy Director of Visuals, who shared a first-place award with Nicole Frugé for their digital editing of the 'Answer to our ancestors' prayers' story.

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What they’re saying

“Chronicle Visual Journalists are so incredibly versatile, from documenting the most challenging issues, like addiction and underinsurance, to celebrating the triumphs of ingenious teens and the Bay Area's world class restaurant scene. Their powerful images and videos are made with unflinching honesty and care for the community members who share their stories. I'm so grateful that this extraordinary work was recognized alongside the biggest media organizations in the country.”

— Nicole Frugé, Chronicle Director of Visuals

The takeaway

The recognition of the Chronicle's visual journalists in these prestigious photojournalism contests underscores the newspaper's commitment to high-quality, impactful storytelling that captures the diverse experiences and issues facing the San Francisco Bay Area community. The awards highlight the talent and dedication of the Chronicle's visual team and their ability to produce powerful, visually sophisticated content that informs and inspires readers.