Use Pictures of the Year International on first reference. POY is acceptable on second reference.

POY is the oldest and one of the most prestigious photojournalism programs and competitions in the world. Created in 1944 at the Missouri School of Journalism as The First Exhibition of Spot News and Feature Photography, founder Cliff Edom intended to recognize newspaper and magazine photographers on the World War II home front. It has since evolved into an international competition with more than 40,000 entries annually. It became affiliated with the Missouri School of Journalism’s Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute in 2008. POY receives financial support from RJI and photographers, editors and publications who enter the annual competition, as well as the POY Endowment.