SEJ Awards FAQs 2010

You don't have to be an SEJ member or an environment specialist to enter. Reporters who cover health, politics, science, energy, local government or any other beat are encouraged to enter their work on environmental subjects. Students may enter work that was published or broadcast in a media outlet accessible to the general public. SEJ welcomes entries from outside the U.S., but non-English entries must be accompanied by a complete English translation. Judges for this contest may enter except in a category to which her or his panel is assigned. Members of SEJ's Board of Directors and Awards Committee and SEJ staff may not enter. Exceptions will be made for group entries including an SEJ board member if that member did not play a significant role. Please see the complete rules for details on all categories.

 
How do I submit my entry?

Entrants first complete an electronic entry form. There is a different form for each category. Forms are located at the bottom of the How to Enter page. See below for how options on electronic and hard-copy submissions.

Print category stories may be submitted in one of six ways:

            1) Internet web addresses entered through the electronic entry form. The web page or pages must clearly show the story or stories as they appeared in the original print version, with the same headlines, graphics and photos, and complete, unaltered text;

            2) PDF or html files entered through the electronic entry form. The files must clearly show the story or stories as they appeared in the original print version, with the same headlines, graphics and photos, and complete, unaltered text;

            3) clearly legible photocopies on paper measuring no smaller than 8.5 inches by 11 inches and no larger than 11 inches by 17 inches, shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information;

            4) clips mounted on paper, cardboard or similar material (clips mounted on cardboard or other stiff paper may not be larger than 11 inches by 17 inches to allow for filing in the SEJ office), shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information;

            5) reprints shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information;

            6) printouts of PDF versions of print stories shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information;. In each case, the submitted material must show the same stories, headlines, photos and graphics that appeared originally in print, without any additions or deletions, and must be accompanied by at least one actual tear sheet or clipping.

            Tear sheets only are not accepted. News services may submit computer printouts. SEJ also requests entrants in print categories to include, if possible, an electronic copy on CD for archiving. Supplementary material, including online components, may be included.

Broadcast category stories may be submitted in one of two ways:

            Television stories may be entered as links to websites where the videos can be viewed, or mailed on DVD (digital video disc) to the SEJ office with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information. It is the entrant's responsibility to make sure entered links are current and viable, and that DVDs are playable in multiple formats and readable on both PC and Mac. Supplementary material, including online components, may be included.

            Radio stories may be entered as links to websites where they can be listened to, or shipped on audio compact discs to the SEJ office with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information. . It is the entrant's responsibility to ensure entered links are current and viable, and that audio CDs are readable on both PC and Mac. Supplementary material, including online components, may be included.

Online category stories may be submitted in one of three ways:

           1) Web addresses that are current and publicly accessible, 2) compact discs showing exactly how the material appeared online or 3) legible printouts of exactly how the material appears (or appeared) online. If sending CDs or printouts, these must be shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information. In each case, the submitted material may not reflect any changes made after the last day of February of the current contest year. Entries must also be accompanied by complete instructions indicating which stories and web pages are to be judged. It is the entrant's responsibility to ensure each disc is readable on both PC and Mac.

Book entries must be submitted as published, shipped to SEJ with a cover letter containing the entrant's name and contact information. Computer printouts or proofing copies will not be accepted.

Student entries can include print, online or broadcast; follow the instructions listed above.

Entries may be shipped to:

SEJ Awards
P.O. Box 2492
Jenkintown PA 19046

for Federal Express, UPS or other overnight delivery:

SEJ Awards
115 West Avenue
Suite 301
Jenkintown PA 19046

Student entries are $15 for members, $25 for non-members who include a membership application with the entry, $50 for non-members.

All others are $30 for members, $50 for non-members who include a membership application with the entry, $80 for non-members.

All other entries must have been published between March 1, 2009, and Feb. 28, 2010. A series that begins or ends outside the contest dates may include those stories published outside the contest dates. Check your category for the number of stories allowed.

Each story entered in the contest must be predominantly about an environmental subject and must have been published or broadcast in a media outlet accessible to the general public. Stories may be about unrelated environmental topics unless entered in the explanatory, investigative, or outstanding broadcast story categories, which must be about a single subject. The awards committee is the final authority for determining whether an entered story is eligible. Entry fees will not be returned for entries deemed not eligible.

There are different limits for the various categories, so consult the instructions carefully before you submit your entry. Related stories published or broadcast on the same day count as one story, as do daily installments of a series.

You should describe your story or stories, including the resources that went into reporting them, their impact, and the deadlines and other obstacles you faced. The letter may be from you or a supervisor but it may not exceed 1,000 words.

In addition to journalists working alone, reporting teams may be part of the same entry if the team worked together on the entered stories. Only individuals may enter—not publications, stations, programs or networks. If a team wins, the prize will be divided according to instructions given by the individual filling out the entry form. Team entries may include photographers, producers, artists, etc. Only one of the reporting team must be a member of SEJ to qualify for the member rate.

Choose carefully because you may select only one category per entry. The beat category is to recognize a body of work, which could include deadline or feature reporting. The explanatory or investigative reporting categories are for more involved pieces or series. The online category is reserved for journalism produced specifically for Internet viewing, or republished using tools unique to the Internet, such as hyperlinks, streaming audio or interactive features. It is not for no-frills reproductions of print, television or radio stories. If you're still uncertain about which category best fits your entry, please contact the SEJ office at (215) 884-8174.

You are eligible to enter the small market category for print if your stories first appeared in a publication with a circulation of less than 100,000.

Yes, but only if you enter different stories each time and mail each entry separately with a separate entry fee. No story may be included in more than one entry, i.e., the same package of stories cannot be entered in more than one category and each story in a package may be part of only one entry.

Panels of journalists, journalism educators and other qualified individuals appointed by the awards committee will judge qualified entries and pick place-winners. Judges may select no winners in a category if they decide there are no deserving entries. The awards committee, whose members are appointed by the SEJ board, is the final authority for interpreting contest rules and may disqualify entries that do not comply with those rules.

Winners will be announced in early July. Awards will be presented at SEJ's 20th Annual Conference in Missoula, MT, Oct. 13, 2010.

Copies of place-winning stories will be retained as an archive by SEJ and may be reproduced on the SEJ website and in SEJ publications at SEJ’s discretion.