Entries for the 2013 Science in Society Journalism Awards are now open.

To learn more, read the rules and entry instructions below. Once you are ready to submit, enter online here. Entries close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on February 1, 2013.

Categories for 2013

• Books
• Commentary and opinion
• Science reporting
• Science reporting for a local or regional market
• New this year: Longform science reporting

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 five categories: books, opinion, science reporting, science reporting for a local or regional market, and — new for 2013 — longform science reporting. 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 2013 awards will be presented at an awards dinner the weekend of November 2, 2013, in Gainesville, Florida. 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.

Categories for 2013

• Books
• Opinion

An entry will consist of a single article. Opinion entries must espouse a particular opinion in order to be considered. An entry will consist of a single article of up to 6,000 words, or a single broadcast of up to 10 minutes in length.

• Science reporting

An entry will consist of a single article of up to 6,000 words, or a single broadcast of up to 10 minutes in length.

• Science reporting for a local or regional market

An entry will consist of a single article of up to 6,000 words, or a single broadcast of up to 10 minutes in length. The publication should be of a local or regional nature, regardless of the topic.

• Longform science reporting

Entries in this category may be a single article or broadcast, or a series.

Work must be written or spoken in English, intended for the lay adult, and first published or broadcast in North America between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2012. Individual 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.

• Any person, including the author(s), may submit material.
• There is no submission fee.
• 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.
• Only online entries will be accepted. With the exception of the Book category, in which hardcopies are required, and some multimedia (see below for details), all entry material must be uploaded to be part of the entry. Once submitted, an entry may not be altered or edited.

To enter

Visit the online entry form and complete all steps of the online entry process by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on February 1, 2013. Your entry is not complete until you receive a confirmation email.

Please adhere to the following file formats and sizes:

• Documents: PDF, max 10 MB (to minimize file size embedded images should be JPG/JPEG, 96 DPI, which is sufficient for web resolution)
• Audio: MP3, max 70 MB
• Video: MPG or .WMV, max 70 MB

Those entering websites need only provide a working URL (with a password allowing cost-free access if necessary). Paste the URL into a PDF and upload.

Note: There is a 70 MB limit for uploaded audio and video, which should be sufficient for the majority of entries, e.g. ~24 minutes of audio with a 3:1 compression ratio that allows for excellent sound quality preservation falls under 70 MB. For audio or video pieces larger than 70 MB, a one-to-three minute clip should be uploaded and the complete entry should be shipped on DVD or CD (see below). Shorter radio or television entries must be submitted entirely online. If shorter pieces are mailed rather than uploaded, they will not be considered.

To mail book entries or audio/video files over 70MB: Complete all steps of the online entry process. Once your entry is complete online, print 10 copies of the confirmation sheet, attach one sheet to each of 10 copies of the book, CD, or DVD, and mail all 10 in a single package to:

NASW
Attn: Science in Society
PO Box 7905
Berkeley, CA 94707

Must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2013, to be considered. Submissions will be accepted only at the provided P.O. Box. NOTE: FedEx and UPS do NOT deliver to P.O. boxes.

For questions, contact:

director@nasw.org

Science in Society Awards Committee chairs:

• Amber Dance
• Dennis Meredith