Award

Accepts entries starting
Entry Deadline	February 14, 2014
Decision Date
Ceremony Date	June 20, 2014
Entry Fee (See Details)
Monetary or Material Award (See Details)

About the Award

The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society first honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the organization awarded the first Distinguished Service Awards. These awards later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

Tips for Winning:

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
— Readability
— Effectiveness of interpretation
— Accuracy and completeness
— Enterprise
— Clarity and Style
— Resourcefulness of the reporter in overcoming obstacles
— Interest
— Adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics

Helpful Hints:
— Let your cover letter speak for you. Explain why you believe your entry is the finest example
of journalism in its category.
— Sidebars, editorials, op-ed pieces and letters-to-the-editor may be included as supporting material but must be limited to 10 pages per entry. Combine PDFs into one file, if possible.
— Many categories are based on market size or circulation. Please make sure your entry is submitted in the correct category.
— In the Radio/TV categories, all edits/segments should be made explicit, through use of silence, beeps or some other fully transparent mechanism.

Notable Winners

2013
Research:
• “Measuring Impact: The art, science and mystery of nonprofit news,” by Charles Lewis and Hilary Niles, Investigative Reporting Workshop

Jury

— Materials will be judged by distinguished, veteran journalists. All decisions are final except that the Board of Directors of SPJ may decide not to make an award in a particular category if doing so would compromise the award program.
— One award is issued in each category; no ties or honorable mentions are awarded.
— An award may be withheld if the judges decide no entry merits recognition.
— The authority for circulation is “Editor and Publisher Yearbook,” for radio market size, “Arbitron Radio” and for television market size, “Broadcasting and Cable Marketplace.” Nationally syndicated cable television programs are classified as networks. Newspaper circulation is defined as average daily circulation.

Monetary/Material Award Details

Eligibility Requirements

Any U.S. Media Outlet

Entry Fee Details

— SPJ members (on or before deadline): $60 per entry
— SPJ members (after deadline): $85 per entry
— Non-members (at or before deadline): $100 per entry
— Non-members (after deadline): $120 per entry

Required Material

— Every entry must be accompanied by a cover letter.
— Supporting materials should be limited to 10 pages [PDF or Word document] per entry. Combine PDFs into one file, if possible.

Entries must be mailed/shipped to SPJ Headquarters. No electronic entries will be accepted in this category. Entrant MUST fill out entry form on the awards site, print out the confirmation form and include it with the entry. Please submit THREE copies of each entry (including the confirmation form)

Entry Format

Only entries in the Research about Journalism category may be mailed in. Those entries must be postmarked by Feb. 14, 2014. Be sure to check the box saying that you are mailing your entry in.
All mailed entries should include a copy of the online award confirmation. To print your award confirmation:

1. Complete the payment and checkout process.
2. Click on the “Your SDX Award Entries” tab and select the entry you will mail in.
3. Print out the confirmation page to submit with your entry.

Mail entry and online confirmation form to:
Sigma Delta Chi Awards
Society of Professional Journalists
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

— If not originally published or broadcast in English, entries must include an English transcript or English subtitles.
— Each entry may be submitted in only one category.
— Entrants may enter as many categories as desired.
— Entrants in all online categories should keep their sites intact and accessible until September 30, 2014.
— Up to four (4) individuals may be named on a team entry, otherwise the entry must be made in the name of the staff of the publication or station.
— No part of any entry will be returned. SPJ reserves the right to use any part or the whole of any entry for publicity or educational purposes.

Entry Fee Requirements:
— To claim the $60 member fee, you must supply your personal SPJ member number. A team entry may claim the $60 fee if at least one member of the team is a member of SPJ. You must provide the member's name and SPJ member number.
— SPJ accepts credit card payments from Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
— Make checks payable to Society of Professional Journalists.
— No refunds issued.
— Please note: SPJ does not have institutional memberships for professional organizations where one membership number would cover all entries from that organization.

Contact Information

Chad Hosier
[email protected]
317/927-8000, ext. 210

Entry Links

Entry URL
Further Information

OTHER AWARDS

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