Nuestro Diario Wins Big; Indian Newspapers Earn Bronze, Manorama Bags Rare Honour

Congratulations to all the winners of the 7th International News Design Competition conducted by newspaperdesign.in. With over 700 entries reviewed by a distinguished jury, earning a Best of Show award, along with two gold medals, nine silver, and eleven bronze medals, is a significant achievement. Nuestro Diario from Guatemala emerged as the star performer, winning both the Best of Show award and a Gold medal. Grupo Tribuna of Brazil has won gold in the page one category. South China Morning Post and China Daily, made a strong impression by clinching medals in the Silver and Bronze categories. Meanwhile, three Indian newspapers secured Bronze medals. Notably, only two newspapers were recognized in the Page One category — one of them being India’s Malayala Manorama.

Reflection of Head of Jury Javier Zarracina*

First, I want to send a big thank-you to the incredible jury team: Svenja Kruse of Focus Magazine in Germany, Marco Hernandez from the NYT and Creative Director, Mathew Kurlan from Kerala in India.

Judging over 700 entries is no small task, and this group approached it with care, precision, and editorial judgment. They were thoughtful, thorough, and generous with their time, and I’m grateful for their dedication.

This year, one of the most noticeable trends was the increasing presence of AI illustrations, present in many entries and even in cover illustrations. Some of these experiments were visually intriguing, and it’s clear that this technology is here to stay. However, as a jury, we often felt that the AI-generated work lacked the emotion, nuance, and editorial judgment that only a human artist can bring. In the rush to cut costs or chase novelty, we’re concerned that the industry might lose the heart and creativity that define great editorial illustratión.

On a more encouraging note, we saw beautiful uses of the print medium. So many entries stood out for their exquisite illustrations, dynamic layouts, thoughtful typography, and bold use of color and size. Some of the pages we saw reminded us why print still holds such tactile, emotional power. In many entries, print was not just a medium but an interactive experience, like the playful New Year’s cover from A Tribuna in Brazil, which won a Gold Medal.

The Summer Olympics offered a high point. It was a chance for publications to showcase the beauty, intensity, and drama of the competition—and they rose to the occasion. We saw stunning photography, energetic layouts, and rich storytelling that made readers feel like they were in the stadium. For example, Nuestro Diario’s spectacular series of 8 graphics about the Olympic pioneers was combined into a gorgeous poster.

Infographics, too, have grown with confidence. Many entries skillfully combined data, illustration, typography, and design into compelling narratives. As a Graphics Director, I was especially pleased to see the creativity, ambition, and sheer range displayed across multiple countries and publications. That said, I hope to see that same spirit of innovation and information design extend beyond the graphics pages and into the entire publication.

Finally, congratulations to all the winners. With such a large field of entries and tough competition, this recognition is especially significant. Your work inspired us—and reminded us why design matters.

*(Javier, the former Director of Graphics at USA TODAY, has recently joined The Washington Post as Head of Graphics)

Comment from member of jury, Marco Hernandez (Graphics Editor, New York Times )