Applications are open for the 2024 Mirror Awards, which is open to international media. Now in its 18th year, the Mirror Awards celebrate outstanding reporting, analysis, and Commentary on the media industry’s role in our economy, culture, and democracy.

Established in 2006 by Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, the awards recognize individuals and teams critically examining their industry for the public’s benefit.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
• Finalists Announcement Dates: Early Spring and June
• Funding Type: Monetary prizes
• Organizer: Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Eligible Countries: Worldwide
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Reporters, producers, editors, and writers covering the media industry
• Focus Area: Reporting, analysis, and Commentary on the media industry
• Number of Opportunities: Multiple awards in different categories
• Host Country: Syracuse University, New York, USA.

Benefits and Prize Categories

Entrants can submit their submissions in the following award categories:

1. SPECIAL TOPIC CATEGORY (1) FOR 2024: Best Story on the media’s coverage of artificial intelligence in journalism and the media ($1,000 prize): Up to three examples illustrating how the media covered AI and its impact on today’s journalism industry.
2. SPECIAL TOPIC CATEGORY (2) FOR 2024: Best Story on the media’s coverage of the Israeli-Hamas conflict ($1,000 prize): Up to three examples showcasing how the media covered the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
3. Best Single Article/Story ($1,000 prize): A print, digital, or broadcast piece focused on the media industry, accurately researched to any length. It may include photos, videos, sidebars, audio, interactive elements, and the written piece. Entrants can submit one article or story per entry.
4. Best Profile ($1,000 prize): A carefully researched and sourced print, broadcast, or digital piece covering a noteworthy person or organization in the media industry is eligible for this category. Entrants may submit one Profile per entry.
5. Best Commentary ($1,000 prize): A broadcast, print, or digital piece or series of up to three submissions of Commentary on the media industry, demonstrating the writer’s overall knowledge of the subjects, analytic skills, and unique voice
6. John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth or Enterprise Reporting ($5,000 prize): A single, detailed investigative piece or up to three pieces focused on the media industry. Applicants can submit print, broadcast, or digital pieces; entries may cross platforms (though not required). Judging will be based on the reporting quality and the covered story’s importance.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants should meet these criteria:

Eligibility:

• The Mirror Awards are open to individuals engaged in professional reporting, Commentary, or criticism of the media industry.
• Eligible mediums include television, newspapers, magazines, radio, advertising, public relations, the Internet, and other content-rich digital communications.

Types of Works Eligible:

• Works eligible for consideration include print, broadcast, and online editorial content.
• It includes material published in consumer and trade magazines, local and national newspapers, and radio and television features and programs—local, national, or syndicated.
• Online publications, blogs, and websites are also in the eligible categories.
• Eligible works must have been published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2023.

Subject Matter Focus:

• Entries should concentrate on the business, people, processes, and regulations for developing or distributing news and entertainment content.
• Noteworthy exclusions from eligibility criteria are television reviews, film reviews, fictional works, and books.

Rules of Entry

Please follow these rules while entering your submissions:

• Writers of any age or professional situation can enter or be nominated.
• Individuals can submit up to three entries in total. In the case of more than three submissions, only the first three entries submitted will be
• Entrant should submit their written pieces with a URL where applicable and in PDF format.
• Podcasts and audio or video stories must have an accompanying URL.
• Individuals have the flexibility to submit more than one entry per category. However, they cannot submit the same piece to multiple categories.
• Each entry must be submitted separately.
• Entries may be utilized in whole or in part at the awards ceremony or for event publicity.
• The judges’ decision is final, and applicants cannot enter
• No awards will be given in a category if the judges deem no entries worthy of citation.
• The Newhouse School will present one award for each winning entry, with additional copies of the prize available for purchase.
• An individual may not win in a category more than three times within five years. Entries by anyone who has won three times in the last five years are not illegible.
• Judges reserve the right to move entries if incorrectly placed or deemed a more appropriate fit in another category.

Required Documents

Please prepare the following materials before submission:

• Writers of any age or professional situation can enter or be nominated.
• Individuals may submit up to three entries in total.
• Entries must be submitted with a URL (where applicable) and in PDF format.
• Podcasts and audio or video stories must be entered with an accompanying URL.
• Each entry must be submitted separately.

Selection Process and Selection Criteria

A two-tiered judging process involving media professionals, faculty from the Newhouse School, and a panel of distinguished journalists and academic leaders.

Entries will be evaluated based on excellence of craft, framing of the issue, and suitability for the intended audience.

How to Enter?

Entrants can submit their submissions online for the Mirror Awards through the link below:

Enter Now

Please visit the official website of the Newhouse School for detailed information about the Mirror Awards.

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