• ‍Columbia School of Journalism Lifetime Award 2022‍
• Committee to Protect Journalists Burton Benjamin Memorial Award
• James Foley Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
• The American Academy of Diplomacy 2021 Arthur Ross Media Award
• International Women’s Media Foundation Courage In Journalism Award
• Overseas Press Club Award for best newspaper or wire service reporting from abroad
• John Peter and Anna Catherine Zenger Freedom of the Press Award from the University of Arizona School of Journalism
• Grady College McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from the University of Georgia
• Canadian Journalists for Free Expression Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award
• Edward R. Murrow Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• National Newspaper Awards Governors’ Award
• AP Oliver S. Gramling Award in Journalism
• Honorary Doctorate from Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ont., Canada
• Honorary Doctorate from University of Nipissing, North Bay, Ont., Canada

The Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) in February 2023 launched an annual award in her name, The Kathy Gannon Legacy Award, recognizing trailblazing journalism as well as decades of mentoring women journalists.

In 2005 Gannon authored “I is for Infidel: From Holy War, to Holy Terror, 18 Years Inside Afghanistan,” an examination of the Taliban and post-Taliban period, published by Public Affairs, New York.