NASW Science in Society Journalism Awards 2023 ($2,000 prize)
Deadline: 1st of February, 2023
The NASW Science in Society Journalism Awards 2023 are now accepting applications. The Science in Society awards were created by the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) to recognize investigative or interpretative reporting about the sciences and their influence on contemporary society without financial support from any professional or commercial interest.
Winners have shown creative reporting that goes much beyond the research itself and into ethical issues and societal ramifications for communities and society at large since the inaugural award was given out in 1972. Because such writing helps them to produce more generally relevant tales that better serve readers and communities, they are especially interested in recognizing science writing that is influenced by a diversity of views.
Categories:
Categories are platform-independent.
- Books: An entry consists of a book-length work that has been published and made
commercially available, either in print or as an ebook. - Commentary: An entry consists of a single article or broadcast that is an opinion piece,
essay, or work written from a subjective point of view or perspective. - Science Reporting: An entry consists of a single article of fewer than 1,500 words or a
single broadcast of up to 4 minutes in length. If an entry consists of a combination of media
(text + video, text + audio, etc.), each minute of audio/video is considered equivalent to 350
words. A mixed-media entry may not exceed the total word limit for the category. Entrants
must indicate whether judges should consider text only, or multiple media. - Science Features: An entry consists of a single article of 1500-4000 words or a single
broadcast of 4 – 12 minutes in length. If an entry consists of a combination of media (text +
video, text + audio, etc.), each minute of audio/video is considered equivalent to 350 words.
A mixed-media entry may not exceed the total word limit for the category. Entrants must
indicate whether judges should consider text only, or multiple media. - Longform Narratives: An entry consists of a single article of 4000 words or more or a single
broadcast of 12 minutes or more in length. Entrants must indicate whether judges should
consider text only, or multiple media. - Series: An entry consists of a series of articles/broadcasts published/produced as a
coherent, named series in a single publication (or publications working together on the
series). Written entries should total 6,000 words or more; broadcast pieces, 15 minutes or
more. Series entries may be for any market.
Prizes:
- NASW will award separate cash prizes of $2,000 for writing judged best in each of the
categories. Only authors and producers listed on the original submission will be recognized
by the awards. - The awards will be announced in October, and travel will be provided for one (1)
representative to accept the award at the annual Science Writers conference. Prize money
will be split between the entrants at their discretion. However, the prize money is intended
for content authors or producers, not publications or news organizations.
Eligibility:
- Works should be first published or broadcast in North America OR works first published or
broadcast outside North America with international readership between January 1, 2022,
and December 31, 2022. - Entries must fit into one of the categories above.
Application:
Complete all steps of the online entry process by 11:59PM Eastern on February 1, 2023. Your entry is not
complete until you receive a confirmation email.
