Nominations Open: Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism (US)

Deadline: 31-Jan-27

The Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism recognizes outstanding work that evaluates news media coverage of significant subjects and issues in the United States. The award honors responsible, constructive analysis that contributes to improving print, broadcast, and other forms of journalism. The winner receives a $2,500 honorarium and is expected to attend the award ceremony at the Penn State campus in September and deliver a talk on the subject for which they are being honored. The Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism was established to recognize distinguished contributions to the improvement of journalism through responsible analysis and critical evaluation. The award was announced at a ceremony at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in 1994. It is one of the few awards in the United States specifically dedicated to examining the performance of publishers, editors, and reporters through media criticism. The award focuses on work that provides thoughtful and constructive criticism of news media performance. The award recognizes constructively critical work that evaluates news media coverage and contributes to a better understanding of journalism practices.

Eligible work may include:

The work should be consistent with the purpose of the award and should critically examine significant subjects or issues covered by news media in the United States. Both individuals and organizations are eligible for recognition.

Eligible entrants may include:

The work must meet the award’s purpose and have been completed or ongoing during the relevant calendar year. The Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism aims to encourage responsible evaluation of news media performance. The award seeks to recognize work that: The winner receives a $2,500 honorarium. In addition to receiving the honorarium, the winner is expected to participate in the award ceremony and share their expertise through a talk on the subject for which they are being recognized. The award ceremony takes place in September on the Penn State campus. The winner is expected to attend the ceremony and deliver a talk related to the work being honored. This provides the recipient with an opportunity to discuss their media criticism and engage with an academic and journalism-focused audience. Submitted work must be consistent with the purpose of the Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism.

The work may have been:

The award is intended for work that constructively evaluates news media coverage and contributes to responsible criticism of journalism. Entries must include documentation explaining the work and demonstrating its relevance to the award.

Applicants should submit:

Links to completed work published online are also acceptable. For cumulative work, applicants should provide representative examples rather than submitting every individual piece. Anyone may submit an entry on behalf of an individual or organization. This means that the person submitting the entry does not necessarily have to be the individual or organization being nominated. Entries can recognize qualifying work produced by both individuals and organizations. The entry letter should clearly explain the nature and results of the work being submitted.

It should help reviewers understand:

Relevant published, aired, online, or research materials should accompany the letter. Completed work available online can be submitted through links. When an entry represents cumulative work rather than a single article, report, or project, applicants should limit their submission to representative examples. This allows the submission to demonstrate the scope and quality of the work without requiring every individual piece to be included. It is an award recognizing outstanding and constructive work that evaluates news media coverage of significant subjects or issues in the United States. Both individuals and organizations can receive recognition, including qualifying journalists, researchers, media organizations, newspapers, periodicals, broadcast stations, cable stations, and journalism watchdog groups. Eligible work can include articles, books, electronic and online media reports, academic and other research, and reports produced by media ombudsmen and journalism watchdog groups. Yes. Work that was completed or ongoing during the relevant calendar year can be considered. Yes. Links to completed work published online are acceptable. Yes. For cumulative work, entries should be limited to representative examples. The ceremony takes place in September on the Penn State campus. Yes. The winner is expected to attend the award ceremony and deliver a talk on the subject for which they are being honored. An entry should include a letter describing the nature and results of the work, along with relevant published or aired material and any other necessary documentation. The Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism recognizes individuals and organizations whose work provides responsible and constructive analysis of news media coverage in the United States. By honoring critical evaluation of publishers, editors, reporters, and journalism practices, the award aims to contribute to the improvement of print, broadcast, electronic, and online journalism. The $2,500 honorarium, combined with recognition at the September ceremony on the Penn State campus, provides an opportunity to highlight meaningful contributions to media criticism. Eligible entries can include published, aired, online, academic, research, ombudsman, and watchdog work that demonstrates thoughtful evaluation of news media performance. For more information, visit Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.