The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society first honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the organization awarded the first Distinguished Service Awards. These awards later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
The awards recognize the best in professional journalism in categories covering print/online, audio, television, and more.
Recent and new additions include awards for Consumer/Retail Reporting, Tech Reporting, Crime Reporting, Regional Political Reporting and Cultural Criticism as well as Spanish-language categories that are open to all platforms.
General Rules
- The contest is open to any work published or broadcast by a U.S. or international media outlet. Freelance work is eligible. Entries must have been published or broadcast during 2023.
- Every entry must be accompanied by a cover letter — which should include access information if there is a paywall.
- Apart from Spanish-language categories, if not originally published or broadcast in English, entries must include an English transcript or English subtitles.
- All entries in all categories must be uploaded to the online awards site.
- Entrants in all online categories should keep their sites intact and accessible until September 30, 2024.
- Divisions within a category might be combined during judging, depending on the number of entries. Entries may be reassigned to appropriate categories by contest administrators.
- Up to four (4) individuals may be named on a team entry, otherwise the entry must be made in the name of the staff of the publication or station.
- No part of any entry will be returned. SPJ reserves the right to use any part or the whole of any entry for publicity, educational or promotional purposes.
- Supporting materials can consist of a PDF or Word document (limit five pages, combined into one document if possible) or up to 10 minutes of video.
- If a State/Local news organization collaborates with a National/Network news organization, the entry belongs in a National/Network category.
- Each entry may be submitted in only one category. The only exceptions are visuals, graphics and video entered as part of a writing award. These also may be submitted in a visual category, including Photography, Videography, Photo Illustration and Cartooning divisions.
Helpful Hints
- Let your cover letter speak for you. Explain why you believe your entry may be the finest example of journalism in its category.
- Sidebars, editorials, op-ed pieces and letters-to-the-editor may be included as supporting material but must be limited to five pages per entry. Combine PDFs into one file, if possible.
- Some categories are based on National/Network and State/Local. Entries not submitted in the correct category will be disqualified. Entry fees are not refundable.
- In the Audio/TV categories, all edits/segments should be made explicit, through use of silence, beeps or some other fully transparent mechanism.
- Print circulation distinctions for newspapers and magazines are to be based on non-Sunday, single issue distribution. If submitting for a weekly, monthly, or Sunday-only publication, provide single-issue circulation details in the cover letter.
Entry Requirements
Entry Fee
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- SPJ members: $65 per entry
- Non-members: $100 per entry
To claim the $65 member fee, you must supply your personal SPJ member number. A team entry may claim the $65 fee if at least one member of the team is a member of SPJ. You must provide the member’s name and SPJ member number.
- SPJ accepts credit card payments from Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
- Make checks payable to Society of Professional Journalists.
- No refunds issued.
- Please note: SPJ does not have institutional memberships for professional organizations where one membership number would cover all entries from that organization.
Cover Letter
A one-page cover letter with the following information can be provided to support your entry. If the entry is in a circulation- or market-divided category, include that information. Circulation distinctions for print formats are to be based on non-Sunday, single issue distribution. If submitting for a weekly, monthly or Sunday-only publication, provide single-issue circulation details.
Also make sure to include any necessary paywall login/password info.
In addition, the letter could include:
- A summary of the entry.
- A discussion of major findings and subsequent results.
- A review of the process followed to get the story, including information about the circumstances that prompted the story; the length of time taken to report, write and edit; and sources and references used.
- An account of the difficulty or uniqueness of effort in obtaining the story.
- Adapt content as needed for editorial and art/graphic categories.
Divisions
- Each entry in divided categories must be accompanied by a statement of the news organization’s coverage area and print circulation. The name and title of the person submitting must be legible. No entry for a divided category will be accepted without a statement of coverage area.
- Nationally syndicated cable television programs are classified as networks.
- National/Network and State/Local classifications are based on primary coverage.
Accuracy Requirement
Any corrections, clarifications or retractions made after initial publishing or broadcast must be submitted as part of the entry. Also, copies of any written challenges to the report’s accuracy sent to the entrant or the news organization by or on behalf of those mentioned — including but not limited to letters, e-mails or legal papers — must be included with the entry. Any responses by the news organization must also be included.
If clarification is needed and an email sent to the contact person on the entry, a prompt response is necessary. In those cases, there will be an URGENT note in the subject field.
Judging Criteria
- Materials will be judged by a panel of professional journalists and/or journalism educators. All decisions are final except in situations where additional information comes to light after judging.
- One award is issued in each category; no ties or honorable mentions are awarded.
- An award may be withheld if the judges decide no entry merits recognition in that category.
- Authorities are “Editor and Publisher Yearbook” for circulation, “Nielsen Audio” for radio market size and “Broadcasting and Cable Marketplace” for television market size. Nationally syndicated cable television programs are classified as networks. National/Network and State/Local classifications are based on primary coverage.
- Each entry must include a source or contact person to verify the news organization’s primary coverage. Similarly, each print entry must include a source who can verify circulation.
- Readability
- Effectiveness of interpretation
- Accuracy and completeness
- Enterprise
- Clarity and style
- Resourcefulness of the reporter in overcoming obstacles
- Interest
- Adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics
Category-specific Rules
Print/Online Entries (Newspaper and Magazine Categories)
- Entrants need to submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the page on which the story appeared. The date of publication must be visible. Online entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified.
- PDFs should have the same name as the title of the story.
- PDFs should be combined into one file, when possible. The cover letter and supporting material should be separated from the main entry.
- Supporting material must be limited to five pages.
- Daily publications must be printed at least four times per week and available by delivery, newsstands and/or vending machines. Otherwise, they are considered Non-Daily.
- Entrants must keep their entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2024.
- Judging will take place March-April 2024.
- Affiliated online publications are those owned by or partnered with media organizations whose primary outlets are not based on the Web, such as broadcast stations, newspapers or magazines.
- Independent online publications are stand-alone sites not owned or partnered with print or broadcast media organizations.
- Newsletter entrants should submit PDFs of the newsletter issues to be considered.
- Reviews and critical pieces should not be submitted in the Arts/Fashion Journalism category. Instead, submit those to Cultural Criticism.
Art/Graphics Entries
- For photography categories, entrant should submit a PDF of the page on which the art appeared in print or a link to the art published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.
- For single-photo categories, make clear which photograph is to be considered.
- Syndicated cartoons should be classified under the largest market in which the work appeared. A link is required to prove that it was published.
Audio Entries
- Entries may be edited for length.
- Entrant should submit a link to the work online or upload an audio file to the awards site [50 MB file limit].
- Radio entries should upload all audio files in .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.
- Podcast entrants should upload the work to an online audio or video site and submit the URL (preferred) or upload the file(s) to the awards site [50 MB file limit]. Files must be in one of the following formats: .mp3, .wav, .aiff, .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.
- National/Network and State/Local classifications are based on primary coverage. Market size based on Nielsen Audio Market PDF.
- Podcast entries must be no more than 30 minutes long and may be edited for length.
Video Entries
- Entries may be edited for length.
- Work aired on an internet TV station should be entered in the Digital Video category.
- Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site [50 MB file limit]. Supporting material must be limited to 10 minutes of video.
- See market size breakdown [ustvdb.com]
Awards Presentation
Winners are scheduled to be announced in July 2024. Details on the awards reception’s format and venue will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.
Due to the volume of entries received, only those who are awarded will be contacted with results.
For more information, contact SPJ Headquarters via email.