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Joseph Pulitzer, the late publisher of the New York World and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, left $2,500,000 for the founding of the Pulitzer School of Journalism at Columbia University and the annual Pulitzer prizes for outstanding work in journalism and letters. (AP Photo/files)

“🚨It’s award season🚨,” NPR reporter Chiara Eisner tweeted ([link removed]) at the start of the year.
And she had an offer:
“If you’re a local reporter who wants to apply for something & can’t for lack of funds, DM/email me! If you’re a national reporter willing to contribute $ to support local reporters who want to apply for something but have fewer resources, DM/email me!”
She didn’t really have a plan. But the journalism contest system, which often cost $75 or more to apply in one category, put local journalists at a disadvantage. She figured if a handful of national and international journalists pitched in, more local work could be considered.
Eisner has been a local reporter, too, and, “I know that local reporters work extremely hard and do extremely valuable work and sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve because they can’t afford to apply for as many awards,” she told me in a call last week.
There are a lot of efforts aimed at helping local news and local journalists, including Press Forward ([link removed]) , the American Journalism Project ([link removed]) and The Pivot Fund ([link removed]) .
“This seemed like one way that I could jump in and do something with my network.”
If supporting local journalists’ contest entries puzzles you, you’ve probably never entered a journalism competition. There are many. Some are free. Most have fees. Some under $100. Some cost a lot more. Bigger newsrooms often devote teams of a few people to prepare entries for weeks starting in January. And those newsrooms, not individual reporters, usually pay for all those entry fees.
The entry fee may be a way for an organization to fundraise or it might just cover expenses of running the contest itself. But if you’re a freelancer or in a small newsroom, the work and cost are likely on you. And it adds up.
Since sharing her idea, Eisner has heard from six national and international journalists willing to help out. One of them is retired NPR reporter and correspondent Howard Berkes.
“I’ve seen really good journalism not get submitted that should get submitted,” he said. “In the judging that I’ve done, I see that these stories could be competitive.”
Winning awards can do more than just affirm your work. It can highlight stories that don’t rise to the level of national, show value to your newsroom and help other newsrooms know you’re out there.
“The benefit of an award for your career can be momentous,” Eisner said.
If you’d like to help, or you’d like to get help with the cost of submitting to contests, reach out to Eisner at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
Ultimately, she said, evening the playing field makes the awards themselves more worthy.
“Awards are going to be more valuable for all of us if the pool represents everybody who should be applying.”
Coming up next week: Berkes’ tips for submitting your strongest work.

While you’re here:
* If you’ve won journalism awards, what are you the most proud of? I’d love to hear about it. My favorite came in my first job. It was a total surprise ([link removed]) , and it made me even more convinced that telling stories about the place I lived was the best way to be employed.
* I’m excited to see Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy’s new book on “What Works in Community News.” Here’s more ([link removed]) .
* Our industry does not prepare journalists to become managers and leaders too well, which is why I love Poynter’s Essential Skills for Rising Newsroom Leaders. Applications are now open! ([link removed])

That’s it for me. You deserve every award 😘
Kristen
Kristen Hare
Faculty
The Poynter Institute
@kristenhare ([link removed])

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