The Scripps Howard Foundation, with the Indiana University School of Journalism, established the Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition in 1984 to honor the memory of the journalist who led Scripps Howard Newspapers from 1922-1953 and United Press International from 1912-1920.

Until 2006, the winners received scholarships and their college newspapers were awarded grants. But in 2006, the foundation and School of Journalism revamped the awards to include a 13-day guided tour to Japan and South Korea for nine national scholars.

The 2006 and 2007 winners traveled to Asia to study journalism in other cultures, visiting media organizations as well as cultural and historical landmarks. Roy W. Howard also had made such journeys as a journalist, persevering to land interviews with elusive leaders.