Contacts:
Rebecca Baker, SPJ National President, 203-640-3904, rbaker@spj.org
Christine Coridal, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, ccordial@spj.org
Teri Walker, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, (317) 231-9207, twalker@nmpct.org
Chris Bruggers, Society of Environmental Journalists, (202) 558-2022, cbruggs@sej.org

INDIANAPOLIS --- The Society of Professional Journalists is thrilled to partner with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Society of Environmental Journalists in announcing the Nina Mason Pulliam Award for Outstanding Environmental Reporting, to be presented for the first time in 2018. The award includes a $10,000 cash prize.

The award will recognize the “best of the best” of environmental reporting. The winning entry will be chosen from among the first-place winners of SEJ’s seven award categories, and will be recognized at SEJ’s 28th Annual Conference in Flint, Michigan, in October. In addition to the cash prize, the award includes up to $2,500 to cover registration, travel and hotel expenses for the winner, or representatives of the winning team, to attend the annual SEJ conference.

“SPJ is thrilled to partner with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Society of Environmental Journalists. Scientific journalism plays a crucial role in informing and educating citizens about the global effects of complex environmental issues,” SPJ National President Rebecca Baker said. “Sharing information about the importance of protecting the environment is a challenge in any field, and journalists’ ability to craft a compelling story focused on these vital social issues is deserving of this level of recognition. This award perfectly exemplifies the truth-seeking, fact-driven and public-serving principles that define quality journalism.”

The award is named in honor of Nina Mason Pulliam, a journalist, businesswoman and philanthropist, who with her husband, Gene, established Central Newspapers, Inc., a national newspaper corporation, in 1934. Upon her death in 1997, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established to support the causes most important to Pulliam: helping people in need, especially women, children and families; protecting animals and nature; and enriching community life, primarily in her home communities of Phoenix and Indianapolis.

“Recognizing great environmental journalism is one of the strongest means of ensuring credible and robust reporting -- which is critical if we want communities to be informed and engaged on environmental issues,” SEJ Interim Co-Executive Director Chris Bruggers said.

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

The Society of Environmental Journalists was founded in 1990 by a small group of award-winning journalists, including reporters, editors and producers working for The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, Turner Broadcasting, Minnesota Public Radio and National Geographic. Today, SEJ's membership includes more than 1,300 journalists and academics working in every type of news media in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 27 other countries. SEJ's reputation for excellence, service, and integrity has been built upon annual conferences hosted by distinguished universities, scores of regional events, unique publications, its awards program, training sessions and an extensive membership network. As a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, SEJ provides educational opportunities and vital support to journalists of all media who face the challenging responsibility of covering complex environmental issues.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life primarily in metropolitan Phoenix and Indianapolis. The Trust has awarded more than $>292 million in grants and student scholarships since its inception in 1997. For more information, visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.

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