The James Aronson Awards for Social Justice Journalism honor original, written reporting that brings to light widespread injustices, their human consequences, underlying causes, and possible reforms. This includes exposing discrimination based on race, class, gender, religion or sexual orientation; economic exploitation; violations of human rights, civil liberties or free expression; environmental degradation; and brutality to civilians in war.

The awards recognize work published in English in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and text-based online publications based in the U.S. We are particularly interested in reporting with the potential to foster systemic change or to help bring those who abuse their power to justice.

2013
David Carr, Career Achievement Award; Andrea Elliot, The New York Times; Chris Hamby, Center for Public Integrity; Terrence Mccoy, Miami New Times; Ted Genoways, OnEarth;
Alexander Mallis, IMA/MFA Student – Hunter College; Angely Mercado Undergraduate Student – Hunter College

2012
David Jackson, Gary Marx and Alex Richards, The Chicago Tribune; David Heath & Jill Rosenbaum, Center for Public Integrity; Lisa Song, Elizabeth McGowan & David Hasemyer, InsideClimateNews.org; Shane Bauer, Mother Jones; Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic;

2011
John Nichols, Career Achievement Award; The Center For Public Integrity and iWatchnews.org; The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, “Unfit for Duty“; Danny Hakim and Russ Buettner, The New York Times; Lea Goldman, Marie Claire

David Alm is a journalist, editor, and adjunct professor of journalism at Hunter College and the NYU School for Continuing and Professional Studies.

Christopher T. Cory is retired Executive Director of Public Information at Pace University.

Laura Gottesdiener is a social justice activist and freelance journalist in New York City.

Marya Grambs is a long-time organizer, activist, and founder of community-based organizations having to do with women’s and girls’ issues, health, and poverty.

Joseph Huff-Hannon is the co-editor of Gay Propaganda: Russian Love Stories and a Senior Global Campaigner with the international human rights advocacy organization Avaaz.org, and has a background in journalism, documentary film, book publishing and politics.

Philip Kay is a writer, editor and journalism educator whose work focuses on urban schools, reporting and cultural history.

Ricardo Miranda is a multimedia artist and associate professor of film and media studies at Hunter College.

Peter Parisi is an associate professor, Film and Media Studies, Hunter College, City University of New York and Coordinator of the Aronson Awards for Social Justice Journalism and Cartooning with a Conscience.

Tim Portlock is a visual artist and a professor of new media at Hunter College.

Robin Reisig. As a member of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism’s full-time faculty from 1991-2012, Robin Reisig was named Teacher of the Year and, nominated by her former students, won the school’s Alumni Award.

Alice Slater is New York Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and its UN representative.

Ida Susser, a professor of anthropology at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Blanca Vázquez holds a Masters of Science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Diana Powell Ward is the grant writer for the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.

Stories should have appeared in U.S. newspapers, magazines, newsletters or Internet publications between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of the year prior to the contest. Submissions should be received by Jan. 15 or the Monday following when that date falls on a weekend.

David Alm
Department of Film & Media Studies
Hunter College
695 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065

E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 646-526-7594