The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, Columbia University is currently inviting entries for the Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma. These awards were started in 1994 to honour innovative reporting about the impact of violence and other traumatic events on the society. These awards raise awareness about impact of trauma by encouraging media coverage that goes beyond simple narratives about victims’ suffering and healing to more nuanced reporting that grapples with the complexity of trauma. In 2009, the competition was broadened to include work from the full spectrum of news media. Now submissions are also accepted from North American television, online-only news publications, web-based productions, independent film and video productions, magazines and magazine websites.
- Newspapers and newspaper websites
- Magazines and magazine websites
- Online-only news publications
- Network and nationally distributed cable programs
- Small, medium and major market television stations
- Independent productions
- Local and national radio
- Web-based productions
Award Amount
Up to four $5,000 prizes will be given to winning reporting teams for division among those who contributed to the winning entry. Division shall be according to each member’s contribution to the winning entry as determined by the executive editor, producer or other responsible lead manager. Travel and hotel expenses for winners to attend an awards ceremony at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York will be covered by the Dart Center.
Team Members
Team members entitled to share in the prize include reporters, photographers, copy editors, graphic artists and editors who acted as team leaders as well as any other staff members who assisted in the creation of the entry and are listed on the application form.
Eligibility Conditions
- The Dart Awards competition is open to all North American and U.S. territories news media outlets.
- All entries must have been published, aired or broadcast from Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011.
- There is a maximum of one entry per newspaper, magazine, website, television or radio station or independent producer.
- Entries that were published or broadcast in languages other than English are eligible, as long as they are accompanied by a complete translation or transcript in English or English subtitles.
- Radio, television or documentary entries may be no longer than two hours in length.
- Any significant challenge to honesty, accuracy or fairness of an entry, such as published letters, corrections, retractions as well as responses by the newspaper or website, should be included with the entry.
- Standalone, individual blogs are not eligible.
Selection Criteria
- Entries should:
- Portray victims and survivors of trauma with sensitivity and insight.
- Inform readers about the ways individuals react to and cope with emotional trauma.
- Avoid sensationalism, melodrama and portrayal of victims as tragic or pathetic.
- Emphasize victims’ and survivors’ experience rather than the traumatic event itself.
Last date for submitting the entries is January 19, 2012.
For more information, visit this link.
