Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award - Society of Professional Journalists

Home > Awards > Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award

Awards
Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award

Deadline for entries: June 19, midnight ET

(If you're looking for the Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing, it can be found here.)

The Society of Professional Journalists Foundation presents the Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award to honor a person or persons who have fought to protect and preserve one or more of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

2020 Award Winner
The Post and Courier
Read press release

Previous Winners
2019  Spotlight Team, Boston Globe
2018  Kansas City Star
2017  The Better Government Association
2016  Ellen Gabler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Todd Wallack, Boston Globe
2015  The Columbus Dispatch and the Student Press Law Center
2014  Associated Press
2013  Gina Barton, John Diedrich and Ben Poston, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
2012  Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald
2011  The Associated Press
2010  Renee Dudley, Island Packet of Bluffton, S.C.
2009  Jill Riepenhoff and Todd Jones, The Columbus Dispatch
2008  Jim Schaefer & M.L. Elrick, Detroit Free Press
2007  Joe Adams, The Florida Times-Union
2006  Terry Francke, Peter Scheer and the California First Amendment Coalition
2005  Kate Martin and the Center for National Security Studies
2004  Dan Christensen, Miami Daily Business Review
2003  Seth Rosenfeld, San Francisco Chronicle
2002  Dr. William Lawbaugh, St. Mary's College

Mr. Pulliam, who died in January 1999, was publisher of The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News until his death and was well-known for consistently supporting activities which educated the public about First Amendment rights and values. The Foundation has established this annual award to honor those committed to the same goals and as a tribute to the professional contributions that he made to journalism.

About the Award

Annually at the Society of Professional Journalists National Convention, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation will honor an individual, group of individuals or organization with a $10,000 cash award and an engraved crystal. The honoree(s) also will receive transportation (airfare and two-night hotel stay) to the national convention. (Additional travel costs are the responsibility of the award recipient).

Eligibility

Nominations are open to any person, persons or organization in the U.S. or its territories who have worked to protect the basic rights provided by the First Amendment. Honorees do not have to be journalists. In fact, the Foundation encourages recognition of those outside the journalism profession for their First Amendment efforts and initiatives, such as, but not limited to, public officials, members of the legal profession, scholars, educators, librarians, students and ordinary citizens.

Work must have been completed within the 2021 calendar year.

For More Information

For more information contact SPJ Headquarters at 317/927-8000 or by e-mail: awards@spj.org. If selected, applicant should consult with their financial and/or tax adviser. Any tax implications associated with the award are the responsibility of the award recipient.

The Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award is a program of the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation. More about Mr. Pulliam’s distinguished career can be found in The Indianapolis Star’s online library.