DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: May 31, 2024.
This contest is open to members of America's Newspapers. Not sure whether your newspaper is a member? Email cdurham@newspapers.org
The Carmage Walls Commentary Prize for Editorials will be presented in October during the America's Newspapers Senior Leadership Conference. This award recognizes outstanding commentary on local issues. It encourages thoughtful, courageous and constructive editorial page leadership on issues specifically relevant to each newspaper’s primary readership.
Judges will give added emphasis to the courage that it took to write these editorials. Submit editorials that best demonstrate courageous writing!
The prize is named for the late Benjamin Carmage Walls whose newspaper career spanned seven decades. Walls primarily owned community newspapers and advocated strong, courageous and positive editorial page leadership. Southern Newspapers, Inc. – led by Lissa Walls Cribb, his daughter – generously contributes the prize money for this award.
Awards will be presented in each of two circulation categories – over 35,000 circulation and under 35,000 circulation.
In each circulation group, the first-place winner will receive a plaque and a cash award of $2,250. Second-place winners will receive a plaque and $1,000. Third-place will receive a plaque and $500. Additional finalists also will be recognized.
Each entry can include no more than three editorials on a single subject that represent the view of the newspaper. Entries must have been published – online or in print – by a daily or non-daily newspaper between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.
Entry fees: Contest fees for a given entry are just $30. An invoice for contest fees will be sent to everyone who enters the contest in early June.
Writers may submit multiple entries into this contest.
Questions about this contest should be addressed to Cindy Durham, communications director, America's Newspapers, at cdurham@newspapers.org or call (205) 728-5250.