SEJ Awards: 2024 Categories and Entry Forms

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SEJ Awards Categories:

Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, Large

An investigative report or series on a single environmental topic, originally published or aired between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Investigative reporting uses journalistic skills to disclose facts about businesses, government agencies or individuals that, absent the reporting, would not likely be disclosed. Judges will be encouraged to weigh the results of the reporting in their deliberations. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with more than 100 employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: National networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, Small

Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, Large: An investigative report or series on a single environmental topic, originally published or aired between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Investigative reporting uses journalistic skills to disclose facts about businesses, government agencies or individuals that, absent the reporting, would not likely be disclosed. Judges will be encouraged to weigh the results of the reporting in their deliberations. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with 100 or fewer employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: Below top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Beat Reporting, Large

Three to five broadcast or published news reports and/or commentary on a broad range of environmental topics or a broad range of various issues within a single environmental topic published or aired between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024, may be submitted. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story. Entry must be the work of three bylines maximum, plus a photographer, graphics artist or other individual vital to the development of the stories.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with more than 100 employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: National networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Freelancers: Enter your stories in large outlets into this (Beat Large) category.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Beat Reporting, Small

Three to five broadcast or published news reports and/or commentary on a broad range of environmental topics or a broad range of various issues within a single environmental topic published or aired between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024, may be submitted. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story. Entry must be the work of three bylines maximum, plus a photographer, graphics artist or other individual vital to the development of the stories.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with 100 or fewer employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: Below top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Freelancers: Enter your stories in small outlets into this (Beat Small) category.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Explanatory Reporting, Large

A story, series or occasional series that illuminates a significant, complex environmental subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, storytelling and clear presentation, published or aired by a single news organization. Entries must be published between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with more than 100 employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: National networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Explanatory Reporting, Small

A story, series or occasional series that illuminates a significant, complex environmental subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, storytelling and clear presentation, published or aired by a single news organization. Entries must be published between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with 100 or fewer employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: Below top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for recorded stories: Run time for all recorded stories in your entry may not exceed a combined total of 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • ​Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Feature Story, Large

Entry must be a single environmental interest story not directly tied to a recent news event, with an emphasis on storytelling. Entries must be published between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Multi-part stories are prohibited.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with more than 100 employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: National networks in the U.S. and elsewhere and top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for your recorded story: Run time may not exceed 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.

Outstanding Feature Story, Small

Entry must be a single environmental interest story not directly tied to a recent news event, with an emphasis on storytelling. Entries must be published between April 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Multi-part stories are prohibited.

Eligibility:

  • Print or online entries: News organizations with 100 or fewer employees (including all who support production, directly or indirectly). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
  • TV and audio: Below top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
  • Run time for your recorded story: Run time may not exceed 60 minutes.
  • Small-newsroom entities collaborating with large-newsroom entities qualify as large-newsroom.
  • Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
  • Online stories edited or altered after April 30, 2024 aren't eligible.
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