NASW Science in Society Journalism Awards

Honoring and encouraging outstanding investigative and interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact for good and ill.

For work published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2008. Deadline for submissions: Postmarked Feb. 1, 2009.

Please note our new categories this year (details):

• Books
• Commentary and opinion
• Science reporting
• Science reporting with a local or regional focus

THE PURPOSE

NASW established the Science in Society awards to provide recognition — without subsidy from any professional or commercial interest — for investigative or interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact on society. NASW especially encourages entries of critical, probing pieces that would not receive an award from an interest group. Beginning with the first award in 1972, previous winners have demonstrated innovative reporting that goes well beyond the science itself and into the ethical problems and social implications. A committee of accomplished peers judges the entries each year.

THE AWARDS

NASW will award separate cash prizes of $2,500 for writing judged best in each of four categories: books, commentary or opinion, science reporting, and science reporting with a local or regional focus. With the exception of the book category, prizes will be platform independent. We're open to entries from print, broadcast, and online journalists. Winners and their publishers/broadcasters will also receive certificates. The awards will be presented at an NASW reception in October 2009 in Austin,Texas. Reasonable travel and hotel expenses of the award winners will be reimbursed. In cases of multiple authors or producers, only one person's expenses will be covered.

ELIGIBILITY

Any writer (or team) is eligible to submit one entry in each category. Except in the book category, an entry will consist of a maximum of three articles or broadcasts on separate topics or a single series. Work must be written or spoken in English, intended for the lay person, and first published or broadcast in North America between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2008. Winners of last year's awards and individuals who have won three times are not eligible.

RULES FOR SUBMISSION

Please follow the rules carefully. Submissions that do not follow these procedures will not be considered.

• Entries must meet the purpose stated above. Material about significant advances in science, no matter how well written, will be ineligible if the relevance to the broader society is unclear.
• Any person, including the author, may submit material. There is no submission fee.
• "Book" entries: Entrants should send ten copies of the book, each accompanied by a completed copy of the attached entry form.
• "Commentary or opinion" entries: Entrants should send ten copies of a maximum of three editorials, blog posts, or broadcasts, each accompanied by a completed copy of the attached entry form.
• "Science reporting" and "Science reporting with a local or regional focus" entries: Entrants should send ten copies of their submission, each accompanied by a completed copy of the attached entry form. A submission may consist of a maximum of three pieces on separate topics or one series of reports on a single topic. Submissions may include printed articles, broadcasts, and Web sites, alone or in combination.
• If you are submitting multimedia: Videos should be sent on ten DVDs. Radio broadcasts should be sent in a standard format on ten CDs. Those entering Web sites need only provide a working URL (with a password allowing cost-free access if necessary), but they should send ten completed copies of the attached entry form.

For questions about submissions, contact:

To enter, download this brochure.

Send entries, postmarked by Feb. 1, 2009, to:

Science in Society Awards Committee chair 2008-2009:

• Robert Finn, San Francisco Bureau Chief, International Medical News Group

Science in Society Journalism Awards:
2008 | 2007 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996