In the age of Twitter and op-eds, long essays aren’t getting much play. The Sidney Awards stand athwart this trend, yelling stop, and each year honoring some of the best examples of long-form journalism and thought. The winners have been vetted by a panel of judges who are well-versed in the subject matter and who also have the ability to assess whether a piece has made its point clearly, concisely and elegantly.
Winners of the Sidney Award receive a certificate and $1,000 prize money, and are published in a special edition of The New York Times Book Review. Applicants must submit an essay of no more than 10,000 words on a particular topic. Essays can be in a variety of forms, including fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Each essay must have a clear thesis and a clearly defined audience in mind.
All entries must be received by the deadline for each round. The judges will select a shortlist and two runners-up in each category. The judges may choose not to award a prize in any one category. The winners will be announced in May of each year.
The Sidney Hook Memorial Award honors national distinction in scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership in support of the liberal arts. The Society posts a call for nominations a year and a half before each Triennial Council meeting in the Key Reporter, the General Newsletter and on social media.
Established in 1924, the prize is named after the Baltimore businessman and philanthropist who devoted a lifetime of efforts to obtaining equal rights for African Americans. It is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the same spirit of public service and activism that George Barrett exhibited in his professional career as a lawyer, in the pursuit of civil rights, the elimination of discrimination and the advancement of global environmental protection.
Awarded each year to the writer of an essay on a selected theme which most nearly meets the high standards of originality and integrity set by the committee for its annual prize. The essay may be written on any subject within the scope of the field in which the prize is offered and the committee has a discretion to award the prize to more than one work if it is deemed that all submissions are of equal merit. The prize is open to any undergraduate student, regardless of their major. Submissions must be made on a confidential basis and writers are encouraged to use a pseudonym.
