Holding a Mirror to Their Own Industry

by Awl Sponsors

This post is sponsored by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The media play an important role in our democracy — the “watchdog” role, keeping the government in check. But who watches the watchers? Turns out the media do that, too.

In 2006, Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications established the Mirror Awards to honor the reporters, editors and teams of writers who “hold a mirror to their own industry” for the public’s benefit. They are the most important awards for recognizing excellence in media industry reporting.

The school is currently accepting online nominations for the Mirror Awards at http://mirrorawards.com. Application deadline is Feb. 12, 2013. Anyone can nominate, and there is no fee to enter.

Award categories include:

• Best Single Article — Traditional/Legacy Media ($1,000 prize)
• Best Single Article — Digital Media ($1,000 prize)
• Best Single Story — Radio, Television, Cable, Online Broadcast Media ($1,000 prize)
• Best Profile — Traditional/Legacy or Digital Media ($1,000 prize)
• Best Commentary — Traditional Media ($1,000 prize)
• Best Commentary — Digital Media ($1,000 prize)
• John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting ($5,000 prize)

The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. All entries must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.

Entries are evaluated based on three criteria: Excellence of craft; framing of the issue; and appropriateness for the intended audience. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators. An awards ceremony will be held in June 2013 in New York City.

For more information, contact Jean Brooks at (315) 443–5711 or [email protected].