Entry Deadline: February 13, 2015, 5 p.m. ET
Entries accepted beginning November 3, 2014
MSNBC’s Benjy Sarlin receives 2013 New America Award for investigation of immigration reform
The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to name Benjy Sarlin of MSNBC as the recipient of its New America Award, which honors work that explores and exposes issues of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities living in the U.S.
The entry, “Changing America: The 2013 immigration fight,” tells the narrative of immigration reform on the national level, which will determine the fate of millions of people living in many areas of the United States. The three stories submitted for the award cover families that are hoping they won’t be torn apart by deportation, activists working to reform the immigration law and a Republican congressman trying to navigate pressure both from his political party and the increasing Latino vote. Read the complete press release
See series:
– Changing America: The 2013 immigration fight
– “How America’s harshest immigration law failed”
– “On immigration, GOP swing votes want it both ways”
– “New immigration laws split America in two”
SPJ’s New America Award honors public service journalism that explores and exposes an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities currently living in the United States. Although not required, collaboration with ethnic media is taken into account.
To be eligible, work must have been published or broadcast during the 2014 calendar year. SPJ welcomes entries from media outlets, journalists, community and issue advocacy groups, individuals and others concerned with ethnic issues.
Entries for the New America Award must be submitted online by Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 at 5 p.m. ET. (A late fee applies to entries received after February 10. See entry form for details.)
Each entry must include a cover letter explaining the significance of the issue and why it was chosen to report on. The letter should explain any obstacles encountered and benefits gained. The letter can also provide background about the entrants and talk about the effects of the journalism produced. Entries may be in any language; however, English translations must be supplied for entries that are not in English. For broadcast entries, transcripts in English are required.
An entry fee — $25 for SPJ members, $40 for non-members — must accompany each submission.
General Rules
— Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
— Mark the date of the publication or broadcast on the entry form.
— Material submitted for the contest will not be returned.
— Entries may be in any language, however, English translations must be supplied for entries that are not in English. For broadcast entries, transcripts in English are required.
— An entry fee — $25 for SPJ members, $40 for non-members — must accompany each submission. If any entry is submitted to SPJ without the appropriate fee, it will be disqualified.
— Starting this year, entries must be submitted online to SPJ's awards site.
Category-Specific Rules
TV: All video files must be .mp4, .mov, wmv or .mpeg format.
Radio: All audio-only files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format.
Online: Entries that submit inaccurate or incomplete URLs will be disqualified. Web links must remain active until the award winners are announced in June 2015.
For More Information
For more information, contact SPJ Headquarters via email.