MIAMI, NOVEMBER 21, 2024 – The Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Prison Journalism Project (PJP), a national initiative that trains incarcerated writers to be journalists and publishes their stories, are proud to announce the second annual SPJ-PJP Stillwater Prison Journalism Awards.
The national awards program will honor journalistic excellence in the incarcerated community across the following categories:
- Prison Publication of the Year
- New Prison Publication of the Year
- Prison Journalist of the Year
- Best Reported Essay
- Best News Story
- Best Collaboration
- Best Feature
- Best Op-ed
- Best Illustration
The continuation of the awards reflects a joint effort between SPJ and PJP, aimed at increasing the visibility of journalistic efforts among the incarcerated population. The awards are named after the first U.S. prison with a newspaper written and managed exclusively by incarcerated people in 1887 – the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater.
The 2024 awards received over 150 entries from institutions across the country, from Alaska to Miami, and nearly 100 winners in individual and publication-wide categories received SPJ memberships. SPJ and PJP honored the winners with a virtual awards gala for their friends and family members, further highlighting their remarkable work.
“At SPJ, we believe that a reporter’s skills should be weighed beyond pedigree or the glossiness of the byline,” SPJ National President Emily Bloch said. “We want to acknowledge the changemakers who are improving our democracy by utilizing ethical journalism to improve their surroundings—whether it be their neighborhood, school or prison. Working with PJP, we hope to amplify the best in prison journalism in the hopes of encouraging even more of it.”
“We are thrilled to be facilitating the Stillwater Awards for a second year,” SPJ-PJP Stillwater Awards Executive Director Michael Anguille said. “On the heels of a successful inaugural program, we hope to continue highlighting the incredible work of incarcerated journalists in the U.S., and in so doing, ensure their voices continue to be heard on issues which matter not just to them and their families – but to all Americans.”
Prison newspapers have been an important part of the American media landscape since 1800, previously being recognized from 1965-1990 through Southern Illinois University’s annual Penal Press Awards. However, by 1998 the number of prison publications had decreased to less than six. PJP’s Prison Newspaper Project found a resurgence of journalism from inside prisons, with at least 25 prison newspapers run by incarcerated people across 13 states as of November 2024.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with SPJ to shine a light on the incredible work that incarcerated journalists are producing across the country,” PJP CEO and Editor-in-Chief Yukari Kane said. “Our organization has seen firsthand the power of journalism across prison publications, general publications and newsletters for both inside and outside audiences.”
Submissions for work published in 2024 can be sent online or handwritten by postal mail. They will be accepted from all 50 states and will be judged by a panel of professional journalists, editors and journalism educators.
Building off the success of last year’s inaugural program, this year will feature a new category for Best Reported Essay. The non-profit Exchange for Change (E4C) – which provides writing and communications-based learning programs to students who are incarcerated in South Florida prisons and jails – will recommend professionals to judge this category. They will not be instructors who interact with nor teach incarcerated people.
Entries may also be submitted by outside parties on behalf of writers. There will be no entry fee. The deadline for submissions is February 28, 2025. Awards will be announced in April 2025. Winners will receive SPJ membership and its benefits.
For more information, including submission requirements and category details, visit: https://www.spj.org/stillwater.asp.
ABOUT SOCIETY FOR PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS
SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. For more information visit: https://www.spj.org/
ABOUT PRISON JOURNALISM PROJECT
Prison Journalism Project is a national, nonprofit journalism organization that trains incarcerated writers to be journalists and publishes their stories. Sign up for PJP’s newsletter, The Inside Story, at: prisonjournalismproject.org/newsletter/.
Press Contact:
Michael Anguill
Executive Director, SPJ-PJP Stillwater Awards
561-667-7346
stillwater.awards@gmail.com