1. Defending the Disadvantaged   Story that illustrates problems of the powerless and the disadvantaged in society.
2. General News   News story or feature that makes use of public records.
3. Reporting on Open Government   Story that focuses on issues of open government or freedom of information.
4. Investigative   In-depth story or series that uses public records.
5. Opinion or Commentary   Editorial, column or commentary on open records/open government issues.
6. Green News   Story with an environmental angle that uses public records.
7. Opening the Books   Story that uses business or public records to report on corporate practices.
8. Community Watchdog   For publications under 10,000 circulation: Exemplary work — news, feature, investigative, opinion — involving public records.
9. Student Work   Journalism in any platform — investigative, general news, feature, opinion — that makes excellent use of public records or that examines the issues of open records/open government.
10. Online Project   An investigative, general news, feature or opinion piece, either first presented online or that advances a story with new material and that uses open records or examines the issues of open records/open government.
Open Doors Award 
Celebrates the record of an individual or organization — essentially a body of work — in defending the people’s right to open government and open records.