For Immediate Release:
11/6/2008

Contact:
Lauren Rochester, Awards Coordinator, (317) 927-8000, ext. 210, lrochester@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce it is accepting entries for the Sigma Delta Chi Awards and the New America Award.

The SDX Awards honor excellence in professional journalism in 53 categories, covering print, radio, television, newsletters, photography, online and research. The New America Award recognizes public service journalism that explores and exposes an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States.

The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society 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.

To be eligible for SDX Awards, work must have been published or broadcast during the 2008 calendar year. All entries must be in English. Each submission must include a completed entry form, entry fee and be accompanied by a cover letter. Members of SPJ are eligible to enter the Sigma Delta Chi Awards for $60. The non-member fee is $100.

New America Award entries must have been published or broadcast during the 2008 calendar year. SPJ welcomes nominations from media outlets, journalists, community and issue advocacy groups, individuals and others concerned with ethnic and immigrant issues. Each submission must include a completed entry form and be accompanied by a cover letter. There is no entry fee for the contest.

The deadline for entries in both contests in Feb. 4, 2009.

For more information and to obtain an entry form, please visit the SPJ Awards page. Contact Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at (317) 927-8000 ext. 210 or lrochester@spj.org for more information.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ and SDX, please visit www.spj.org.

-END-