Deadline to enter: April 1, 2015
Instructions for Entering:
FIRST: It will help us if you REGISTER ON SEJ.ORG. (Why?)
To access the entry forms, click on the entry forms below. If you register on SEJ.org and are signed in, your contact information will autofill. Please note that registrations are not automatically approved. SEJ will make every effort to approve your registration on sej.org in a timely way, but if you register after 11pm eastern time, you will most likely have to wait until morning to be approved.
Already registered? Sign in to enable autofill on your entry form. To reset your password, get help here . If you forget your username, email the SEJ office.
Below you will find the definitions and entry forms for SEJ’s 2015 categories. When you have selected your category, prepare the materials you will need for entering. Once your materials are assembled, click the name of the category (below) to open the online form. Follow the instructions at the top of the form. Some fields have instructions written below them. Please take note of all instructions!
Materials needed:
• PDFs* or links to each story, commentary or photo
• Radio entries: MP3 files, 20MB max.
• Confirmation that your entry ran or aired during the contest period: 3/1/2014 – 2/28/2015, or that your book was published in 2014. **
• Broadcast transcript if you enter radio or television stories, or if your online entry includes audio/video components
• Broadcast run time
• Credit card for immediate online payment. (You can opt to send a check on the online payment site.)
Note: Cover letters are no longer required. If you want to include a cover letter, you can upload it along with other supplemental materials in the space provided.
* 20MB max file size. Multiple PDFs for one day must be combined. See Help with low-resolution or combined PDFs
** Series that begin or end during the designated contest period qualify in their entirety.
If you are unable to reduce your file to 20MB, email Awards Director Chris Bruggers or call her at (502) 641-1844.
Book entries: Enter the contest using the online entry form below. After submitting your form and payment, ship four copies of your book and a printout of the online entry form to Chris Bruggers, Director of Awards (address below). Note: even if you ship your entries, you must still complete an online form. ELECTRONIC BOOKS: Include detailed instructions on how to access the book. Please include the formats available to read the book. If a special reader app is needed, supply the name of the app to seach for in the entry form’s “Reader App” field. If your book cannot be accessed without payment, you must supply the cost of four books plus $1.38 for postage so the director can send reimbursements to judges. If the reader app must be purchased, include the cost for four purchases. Make your check out to Christine Bruggers, SEJ Awards Director, and send to the address listed below. Please don’t make your check out to SEJ or send to the SEJ office because this will cause delays in getting your book to judges.
Print entries: low-resolution PDF of your entry stories. (Check your category for the allowable number of stories and other details.) (Help with low-resolution or combined PDFs) If you are unable to supply links or low-res PDFs, you may ship four copies of your entries to awards director Chris Bruggers at the address listed below. Please include a printout of the online form. Be sure to follow the preparation rules. Note: even if you ship your entries, you must still complete an online form.
Online and broadcast entries: web links to Internet pages where your television, radio or online news story can be viewed or listened to. Radio entries may upload MP3 files (20MB maximum) (Check your category for the allowable number of stories and other details.) If you are unable to supply links, you may ship four copies of your entries to awards director Chris Bruggers at the address listed below. Please include a copy of the online form. Be sure to follow the preparation rules. Note: even if you ship your entries, you must still complete an online form.
Shipping address:
SEJ Awards
C/O Chris Bruggers, Awards Director
186 North Bellaire Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
Follow the preparation rules for preparing your entries for shipping. Shipped entries that are incorrectly prepared will not be sent to judges. Please pay special attention to the instructions, since your payment is non-refundable.
ENTRY FEES
After completing your entry form, the payment site will open. Please pay your fee immediately after submitting your entry form. For those needing to pay by check, the payment site includes a check option. Your entry will not be processed for judging until payment is received.
$40 US Funds: Member Rate
You must already be a member of SEJ to enter at the member rate. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact SEJ at sej@sej.org or (215) 884-8174.
$80 US Funds: Prospective Member Rate
To enter SEJ’s awards contest at this rate, you must complete a membership application. Please note on your application in the comments field at the end that you are applying for membership with your contest entry.) Please complete your membership application as soon as possible after submitting your entry.
This special discounted $80 fee is only for non-members who are joining SEJ for the first time. It covers your first year of membership (discounted) as well as the contest fee.
$100 US Funds: Non-member Rate
ENTRY FORMS
Deadline to enter: April 1
Read the descriptions carefully, then click on the name of the category you want to enter to open the corresponding entry form. Have your electronic files and web links ready. You can save a draft of the entry form to complete later, but once you click submit, you won’t be able to access the form. If you need to change or add anything, contact Chris Bruggers.
CLICK TO ENTER: Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding In-depth Reporting, Large Market: An investigative report or series on a single environmental topic, published between March 1, 2014, and February 28, 2015. Related stories published on the same day count as one part. TV & Radio stories must not exceed 60 minutes; Print and Online series must not exceed five parts. Multimedia links may be included as supplemental materials. Eligibility: Print media: circulation of 200,000 average daily circulation or more, according to the latest audited figures; TV & Radio: national networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 20 markets in the U.S. as determined by Nielsen; Online: Online news organizations with 50 or more employees. Small-market entities collaborating with large-market entities qualify as large-market. PDF or MP3 files, 20MB max, or links are accepted.
CLICK TO ENTER: Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding In-depth Reporting, Small Market: An investigative report or series on a single environmental topic, published between March 1, 2014, and February 28, 2015. Related stories published on the same day count as one part. TV & Radio stories must not exceed 60 minutes; Print and Online series must not exceed five parts. Multimedia links may be included as supplemental materials. Eligibility: All outlets and publications falling outside the large-market definition. Small-market entities collaborating with large-market entities qualify as large-market. PDF or MP3 files, 20MB max, or links are accepted.
CLICK TO ENTER: Outstanding Beat Reporting, Large Market: Up to five broadcast or published news reports and/or commentary on a broad range of environmental topics published between March 1, 2014, and February 28, 2015. Entry must be the work of an individual, either alone or with a small supporting team. Related stories published or aired on the same day count as one story. TV & Radio entries must have a combined total running time of no more than 60 minutes. Eligibility: Print media: circulation of 200,000 average daily circulation or more, according to the latest audited figures; TV & Radio: national networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 20 markets in the U.S. as determined by Nielsen; Online: Online news organizations with 50 or more employees. Small-market entities collaborating with large-market entities qualify as large-market. PDF or MP3 files, 20MB max, or links are accepted.
CLICK TO ENTER: Outstanding Beat Reporting, Small Market: Up to five broadcast or published news reports and/or commentary on a broad range of environmental topics published between March 1, 2014, and February 28, 2015. Entry must be the work of an individual, either alone or with a small supporting team. Related stories published or aired on the same day count as one story. TV & Radio entries must have a combined total running time of no more than 60 minutes. Eligibility: All TV, Radio, Print and Online publications falling outside the large-market definition. Small-market entities collaborating with large-market entities qualify as large-market. PDF or MP3 files, 20MB max, or links, are accepted.
CLICK TO ENTER: Rachel Carson Environment Book Award: A nonfiction book, published between January 1 and December 31, 2014, covering an environmental topic. Memoirs and picture books are not eligible.
CLICK TO ENTER: Outstanding Feature Story: One environmental interest story not directly tied to a recent news event with an emphasis on storytelling, while also including an explanatory aspect that sheds light on our environment and gives details to concepts or ideas. Entries must be about environmental issues and published between March 1, 2014 and February 28, 2015. Multi-part stories, sidebars and other supplemental material are prohibited. Eligibility: All TV, Radio, Print and Online entities. PDF or MP3 files, 20MB max, or links are accepted.
CLICK TO ENTER: Outstanding Photography: Up to five photographs on one or more environmental topics, published between March 1, 2014 and February 28, 2015. Only photos published as photojournalism will be accepted. Entered photos must not be manipulated or digitally enhanced in a way that changes the content and/or context of the image. A caption that describes the event or situation captured in the photograph must be included for each photo entered. Photos must be submitted as JPEG files, maximum 2MB.