Online journalists are invited to submit their work for consideration in the prestigious 2007 Online Journalism Awards, presented by the Online News Association and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. The awards are a comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in English-language Web journalism.

The awards are open only to websites or areas of websites where journalists have originated the content or selected and amplified the information. Search services and portal sites, as well as news services may submit content they have created that fits the eligibility requirements.

Applicants are invited to submit their work in one or more of the following categories:

Knight Award for Public Service - Digital journalism that performs a public service through compelling coverage of a vital community issue or event;

General Excellence in Online Journalism - A website that successfully fulfills its editorial mission, effectively serves its audience, maximizes the use of the Web's characteristics and represents the highest journalistic standards;

Breaking News - Digital coverage over a 24-hour period of a breaking-news event or development;

Specialty Journalism - Niche websites that focus on a single topic;

Investigative Journalism - Stories that uncover major news based on the reporters' own exclusive investigations or that offer compelling and original analysis and interpretation;

Service Journalism - Digital journalism that sheds light on a single topic that helps users improve the quality of their lives;

Online Beat Reporting - Beat reporting by an individual or team;

Online Commentary - A unique and powerful voice of commentary original to the Web;

Outstanding Use of Digital Media - Achievement by a site in the use of digital techniques;

Student Journalism - Digital journalism by a student or team reporting on a single story or issue.

Winners of the 2006 Online Journalism Awards included NOLA.com and SunHerald.com, both for outstanding coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on the New Orleans community, Roanake.com, MSNBC.com, Good Morning Silicon Valley, Fine Woodworking, ESPN Insider and the Chicago Tribune for "Mercury Menance", an examination of contaminated seafood.

A panel of industry-leading news professional will judge the entries. The Online Journalism Awards were launched in May 2000. Detailed information about the 2007 Online Journalism Awards can be found at the Online News Association website.