Entry Deadline:
February 23, 2021
Entries accepted beginning November 24, 2020
2019 Sigma Delta Chi Award Winners
The Society of Professional Journalists is proud to announce the recipients of the 2019 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism. Judges chose the winners from entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2019. Click here to see a list of winners and view their work.
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society first honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the organization awarded the first Distinguished Service Awards. These awards later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
The awards recognize the best in professional journalism in categories covering print, radio, television, newsletters, art/graphics and online.
• General Rules
• Helpful Hints
• Entry Requirements
• Judging Criteria
• Public Service Categories
• Category-specific Rules
• Presentation
General Rules
— The contest is open to any work published or broadcast by a U.S. or international media outlet. Freelance work is eligible. Entries must have been published or broadcast during 2020.
— Every entry must be accompanied by a cover letter.
— If not originally published or broadcast in English, entries must include an English transcript or English subtitles.
— All entries in all categories must be uploaded to the online awards site. If an entry is mailed to SPJ Headquarters, it will be disqualified.
— Entrants may enter as many categories as desired.
— Entrants in all online categories should keep their sites intact and accessible until September 30, 2021.
— Divisions (based on circulation or market size) within a category might be combined during judging, depending on the number of entries.
— Up to four (4) individuals may be named on a team entry, otherwise the entry must be made in the name of the staff of the publication or station.
— No part of any entry will be returned. SPJ reserves the right to use any part or the whole of any entry for publicity or educational purposes.
— Supporting materials can consist of a PDF or Word document (limit five pages, combined into one document if possible) or up to 10 minutes of video.
— If a small-market/circulation news organization collaborates with a large-market/circulation news organization, the entry belongs in a large-market/circulation category.
— Scripts for broadcast entries are optional, but recommended.
— Each entry may be submitted in only one category. However, photos, graphics and video entered as part of a writing award also may be submitted in a visual category. Visual categories include:
• All Photography categories
• All Videography categories
• Photo Illustration
• Editorial Cartooning
