CASW will select the second winner of the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award in 2023. The award, to be given annually, will recognise and support reporting and writing that embodies the high standards exemplified by Sharon Begley (1956-2021), a science journalist of unwavering dedication, skill, moral clarity and commitment to mentorship. The Sharon Begley Prize comprises a career award, recognising the achievements of a mid-career science journalist, and a grant of at least US$ 20,000 to enable the winner to undertake a significant reporting project.

The entry process

Applications for the Sharon Begley Prize 2023 will be accepted between 1st January and the end of the year. 30th April 2023. Registrations can be made at Submittable.com.

Applicants should be experienced journalists who have compiled a substantial body of work in science journalism, defined as print, audio, video and online reporting on science, health/medicine, the environment, maths and technology.

Eligibility

Applicants must have worked as journalists for at least 8 to 10 years, including significant experience in science journalism, or provide equivalent evidence of commitment to the field. Time spent as an editor counts towards eligibility.

CASW aims to consider a highly competitive and highly diverse pool of applicants and encourages all mid-career science journalists to consider entering. For this, there is no application fee, and applications will be accepted online. Staff and freelance journalists living and working anywhere in the world are eligible if they have published in news outlets available to international audiences. Although the award can only be won once, there is no limit to the number of times you can enter.

Current CASW board members, staff and contractors, as well as members of their families, are ineligible. Journalists who have served on the Sharon Begley Award Advisory Committee become eligible three years after their service ends.

Components of an award entry

Each entry consists of work samples, supporting documents and a project proposal.

Work samples

The body of work submitted must include three to five published clips or other work samples that illustrate the applicant's best work in science journalism. Eligible work includes:

• news
• Features
• columns, analyses and other widely reported comments
• Newsletters
• book chapters (not whole books)
• Podcasts
• Video, audio and multimedia storytelling

Submissions can include data narratives and visualisations. Video and audio stories must have been scripted and reported by the applicant.

If collaborative or produced work is submitted, candidates must detail their reporting and writing roles. In the case of multi-author reporting, the candidate must have done a significant portion of the reporting.

Papers submitted must have been published in English. Self-published papers are excluded.

Supporting documents

Registration must include a cover letter defending the candidate and the proposed project. Elements of a success letter:

• Summary of the candidate's work in science journalism and examples of how this work has had an impact.
• Personal statement conveying motivation and commitment.
• Additional personal information:
  • may have to do with journalistic advocacy or teaching, mentoring or innovation work;
  • can be about the candidate's career arc: training and experience, the pivot to science journalism, excursions into other areas;
• In general, "why now? why me?"

One CV should be sent. The CV should include details that will help the judges assess a candidate's commitment and wider contributions to science journalism, as well as the candidate's career and publication history. The CV should include, as applicable:

• A summary of the published work and/or a link to a portfolio site.
• Contributions to science journalism, including:
  • Voluntary service, collegiate and leadership activities
  • Defence of journalism
  • Teaching
  • Mentoring
  • Innovation
  • Extension activities such as public lectures, workshops, residencies and presentations

The entry should include one to three letters of support:

• A letter of support or nomination from an editor or publisher who is familiar with the candidate's work
• One or two additional letters from a senior colleague or second editor.

Project proposal

Each candidate must submit a proposal project describing a reporting and writing project to be carried out with the award. The proposal:

• It must show that the project is viable, innovative and well conceived.
• It should demonstrate that the candidate has done enough research to know that there is a story and has thought about how to approach the project.
• You should describe the research you have already carried out and outline a work plan that the grant would support.
• It should include a project schedule.

A publication agreement does not need to be in place, but letters from editors indicating interest in the project may be included. A candidate who currently works in a staff role for a news outlet that would serve as publisher should contact CASW for advice on the commitments we expect from employers.

A simple budget is required. The purpose of the budget is to support the plan of work and show the judges how the grant will enable the proposed project. The budget may include:

• Reporting expenses
• Examples: travel, equipment, data, FOIA costs
• Living expenses during writing and pitching
• Pitching expenses (for example, meeting with editors to pitch a book proposal)
• Multimedia production costs

Enough information should be submitted to enable the judges to form a clear opinion of the proposal, but the proposal need not be highly detailed.

The candidate should plan to begin reporting within six months of the award.

Projects that include developing and pitching a book proposal may be submitted.

In the case of a book proposal, the plan should include securing a publishing contract within 18 months. For all other projects, the timeline should aim for publication within two years.

An award honouring Sharon Begley

This award is intended for science, health, and environmental journalists whose careers and work embody the extraordinary qualities of Sharon Begley's journalism, which she was known for:

• depth, especially scientific depth
  • writing that helps the reader understand science
  • precision and care in explaining scientific evidence
• authority
• approachability, humour, and respect for the reader
• exhaustive reporting; careful, thorough sourcing
• powerful, vivid, clear, humane writing and masterful storytelling
• fearless pursuit of truth
• myth-busting and ground-breaking reporting
• insight

Although the award is not given to recognise character or virtue, the judges may also consider evidence of a candidate's:

• advocacy for journalism, fact-based public discourse, public accountability, quality and rigour in the communication of science
• collaborative skill and successful work as a member of a team
• mentorship and professional generosity
• courage, toughness in the face of barriers; leadership and trailblazing
• attention to social issues in journalism, including equity and inclusion in newsrooms and sourcing, and coverage that attends to issues of marginalisation and injustice
• commitment to high-quality journalism and service to readers

Candidates are not required to have won any previous awards.

Judging and presentation of the award

A panel of judges organised by the CASW Board of Directors will review all the entries over a three-month period. The first Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award will be presented at the end of the summer.

After notification, the award winner will receive an award letter stating the purpose and terms of the project grant. An initial amount of US$ 10,000 will be disbursed as soon as the awardee signs the letter.

The prize will be announced as soon as the award letter is signed. It will be formally presented at the conference ScienceWriters2022The event will be held in Memphis at the end of October. CASW will cover the additional costs of registration, travel and accommodation to enable the winner to attend the event. A reception celebrating the launch of the award and honouring the first winner is planned.

Mentoring and project requirements

CASW will provide the award winner with a mentor to support the project. Ideally, the mentor will be a senior science journalist who has successfully completed a project of similar scope and type and has worked in the same medium. An award winner can decline mentoring.

By signing the grant letter, the awardee agrees that:

• The grant will be used to support a science journalism project to be carried out within six months of signing the award letter.
• Any publication resulting from the grant will recognise that it has been supported by a Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award from CASW.
• The awardee will notify CASW when the project is underway. This notice will include a description of any changes to the original project plan, to confirm that the grant will be used for a project that falls within the boundaries of science journalism.
• The winner will notify CASW when the work has been published.
• The tax consequences of the award are the responsibility of the beneficiary.

The remaining US$ 10,000 will be disbursed after the awardee notifies CASW that the project is underway.

If, for any reason, the project stops or fails, part or all of the second payment, depending on the circumstances, must be returned to the Sharon Begley Fund.

Get in touch with Sylvia Kantor in case of doubt.