The Press Club of Dallas has selected 27 finalists in 16 categories for the second annual Hugh Aynesworth Awards for Texas Journalism. The competition was open to Texas reporters, columnists, editors, photographers and videographers from throughout the state of Texas for work done in calendar year 2017. Entries came from journalists and their news organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and smaller communities, such as Howe, a north Texas town with a population of about 2,600.

This year's 27 finalists represent news reporting from throughout Texas in seven news organization categories: daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, television, radio, digital news sites, and photography/video. Winners and finalists will be announced for work in investigative reporting, feature reporting, spot news photography, and feature photography. Judges who will be participating in the awards selection are well-known journalists from the East Coast and have not been involved in Texas journalism.

The event will be hosted by John McCaa, longtime news anchor at WFAA TV.