Deadline: February 1, 2023
Applications are open for the NASW Science in Society Journalism Awards 2023. The National Association of Science Writers (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 modern society.
Beginning with the first award in 1972, winners have demonstrated innovative reporting that goes well beyond the science itself and into ethical problems and social implications for communities and society at large. They especially seek to recognize science writing that is shaped by a variety of perspectives, because such writing enables them to tell more broadly relevant stories that better serve readers and communities.
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.
For more information, visit NASW Awards.