Awards Committee

Committee Charge: 

• Review current awards structure and recommend areas where changes are needed with the intention of streamlining the process to reduce barriers to entry 

• Identify and recruit awards judges that represent a diverse and inclusive range of perspectives 

• Conduct outreach to actively seek and solicit nominations for awards to ensure outstanding entries from a diverse range of entrants 

• Present the nominees for the Editor of the Year, the Leo C. Lee Award, and New Voices Award to the Board 

• Plan and carry out the awards recognition 

Committee Nature:

This committee operates on an annual cycle, executing the same core functions each year while continuously improving processes based on participant feedback, entry data analysis, judge evaluations, and best practices. Each year builds on lessons learned to enhance accessibility, fairness, and impact. 

Current Goals: 

• Expand Participation: Increase awards competition entries by 5% from prior year 

• Diversify Judging: Add 10 new judges representing varied perspectives and experience levels 

• Student Engagement: Promote awareness and lower barriers for student entries 

• Financial Sustainability: Address increasing costs for awards, shipping, and events against level income 

DEI Strategic Priorities: 

• Making the awards competition more accessible:  

• • Lower costs for student entries 

• Create direct entry pathways for anyone to enter

• Promote through Handshake and Center for Community News for students

• Process Transparency: Develop judging rubrics and provide meaningful feedback to all entrants 

• Inclusive Outreach: Target early-career journalists and student-heavy stations 

Revenue Impact:

The annual awards competition makes ~$100k annual gross through entry fees but is facing pressure from rising operational costs.