2025 SEJ Awards: How To Enter SEJ's Rachel Carson Environment Book Contest

DEADLINE TO ENTER: September 2, 2025

LATE DEADLINE: September 16, 2025. Late fees apply.

Rachel Carson Environment Book Award

Recognizes a nonfiction book addressing an environmental issue of local, national or global significance. The book should demonstrate excellence in environmental storytelling, reporting or analysis.

This category is part of the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment. The first-place winner is automatically considered for the Nina Mason Pulliam Award, which includes a $10,000 monetary prize, a trophy and up to $2,500 toward travel, lodging and registration for SEJ’s annual conference.

Entry Guidelines

You may submit a digital version of a published book, such as an accessible ebook or PDF. Do not submit or send physical, bound books. A unique invoice number or PayPal transaction ID number is required for each entry.

Books must have an original copyright date in 2024 and must be publicly available to the general public.

Books translated into English and published for the first time during the contest year are eligible. Photojournalism books that tell a clear environmental story through imagery and text are eligible.

Republished books are not eligible, even if substantially revised, updated or altered. Memoirs and picture books are not eligible. Proofing copies or galleys are not eligible.

What to Prepare and Submit

Entry summary letter: Brief background on the work’s significance, challenges or impact
Include credentials valid through February 2026 for access if behind a paywall

For additional support, view the How To Prepare Your Entry Guide.

Next Steps

To enter the SEJ Awards, all participants must complete both the online entry and online payment forms. Entries without a corresponding payment and completed entry form will not be forwarded to judges.

Before You Submit

Review the full SEJ Awards Rules before entering. While key disqualifying factors are listed on the form, familiarity with the complete rules will help ensure your entry is eligible.

How to Submit

Pay First: Use the SEJ Awards Payment Form. Make note of your invoice number for your submission.
Submit Entry: You’ll be automatically redirected to the entry form via Submittable. If not, use the link in your payment confirmation email. The contest site is Submittable.com. If you've entered SEJ’s awards before, you already have a profile. If not, you will be asked to register for free on the site before you can proceed.
Confirmation: You’ll get a Submittable email confirming your submission. You can revise your entry before the deadline and monitor your entry status.

Didn’t get a confirmation? Check your spam folder and add awards@sej.org to your contacts.

After Submission

Judging will conclude in January 2026. Winners will be notified directly and a public announcement will follow in the spring ahead of SEJ’s annual conference in Chicago, April 15-18, 2026.

Entry Fees

SEJ Members: $45 by Sept. 2 / $90 until Sept. 16
Low-/Middle-Income Journalists: $10 by Sept. 2 / $20 until Sept. 16
All Others: $110 by Sept. 2 / $220 until Sept. 16

Group entries follow the same fee schedule. Accepted: Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, PayPal (USD only).

Want the member rate? To qualify for the member rate, a current SEJ member in good standing must have a byline or hold a significant role in the entry. Apply for membership before entering. If declined, dues will be refunded and the entry will get upcharged. Check your membership status.

Need help? SEJ members may request a fee waiver via the Members in Need Fund. You can also donate to support others.

Go to the Payment Form

Back to the main Awards page.

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