Cash prize offered for environmental journalist of the year

Press Gazette is offering a £1,000 first prize in its first ever awards to recognise journalism focusing on environmental issues.

The awards, which are sponsored by Peugeot, offer prizes for environmental journalist of the year, story of the year and campaign of the year.

There is also a judges’ award which goes to the news organisation, website, publication or broadcaster which is judged to have excelled in the field of environmental journalism.

Entry is free and the deadline is September 19. Journalists can nominate themselves, or put forward a colleague.

Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford said: ‘In recent years global warming and the environment has leapt to the top of the news agenda – and the environment has become one of the most important journalistic specialisms.

‘To recognise this – and to reward the best journalism on environmental issues in the country – Press Gazette has launched the environmental journalism awards.”

To qualify, all entries must have been published between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008.

The categories are:

Environmental Journalist of the Year (cash prize £1,000): Judges will reward the ability to predict trends, analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience. This award will go to a must-read environmental journalist whose work is not only agenda-setting but demonstrates a compelling style in news reporting, colour writing and analysis.
Environmental Story of the Year: The judges will be looking for an exclusive story, an expose or investigation that provided a powerful new angle, challenged established thinking on a subject, or contributed to public understanding and awareness to set the agenda. Entrants to this award will automatically be entered for environmental journalist of the year.
Campaign of the Year: This award is for a piece of work, or series of pieces, that have brought about change on an environmental issue. Judges will be looking at the impact of the campaign, for a clear sense of purpose and direction, and a demonstrative effect, as well as commitment and investment in the project. A series of excerpts from the campaign and supporting materials should all be sent in by email.
Judges’ Award: This award goes to the news organisation, website, publication or broadcaster which is judged to have excelled in the field of environmental journalism.

The award-winners will be chosen by an expert panel of judges which includes Newsnight’s Justin Rowlatt and Communications director of Greenpeace Ben Stewart.

To enter (yourself or a colleague) email to apont@wilmington.co.uk