The Native American Journalists Association will award members for journalistic excellence during the 2019 National Native Media Conference
NORMAN, Okla. — The Native American Journalists Association will recognize outstanding coverage of Indian Country during the 2019 NAJA National Native Media Awards. The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists across the US and Canada.
The early bird entry fee is $25 per entry for professional, associate or tribal members, $10 per entry for student members, and $50 per entry for non-members. Early bird entries will be accepted through March 31.
The regular entry fee is $30 per entry for professional, associate or tribal members, $15 per entry for student members and $55 per entry for non-members through April 19.
Entry Divisions
- Student Division
- Associate Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Associate Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Associate Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
- Professional Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Professional Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Professional Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
View award categories and entry forms here.
2019 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award
The 2019 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recognizes important contributions made by journalists in the past, as well as encourages the new generation of Native journalists to achieve career excellence. This award honors NAJA’s mission and the exemplary people who have led the way with outstanding work and contributions to the field of journalism.
The winner of the NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award will receive $5,000 from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. NAJA will present the 2019 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award during the NAJA Membership Luncheon and Business Meeting on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category and there is no cost to nominate a member for this award.
2019 NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
The NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award recognizes a publication or media outlet that has shown dedication and commitment to upholding freedom of the press, information and transparency in Indian Country. All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category and there is no cost to nominate a member for this award.
2019 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award
The NAJA Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism honors groundbreaking work by a Native American journalist or a team that creatively uses digital tools in the role of community watchdog. Special consideration is given to journalism that helps a community understand and address important issues. A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the winner of the NAJA Richard LaCourse Award. All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category.
Judging
Entrants may reduce their entry fees by volunteering to judge another category / division. For each category judged, entrant may be forgiven one entry fee. Volunteers may judge up to four categories and may not judge a category in which they are competing. Any known conflicts of interest and preferences for categories should be submitted using the judge’s sign-up form.
View contest rules and judge’s sign-up here.
Payment Information
- The early bird entry fee is $25 per entry for professional, associate or tribal members, $10 per entry for student members, and $50 per entry for non-members. Early bird entries will be accepted through March 31.
- The regular entry fee is $30 per entry for professional, associate or tribal members, $15 per entry for student members and $55 per entry for non-members through the deadline of April 19.
- Payment will be accepted via credit card, PayPal, check or money order. PayPal will process all credit card payments at the point of sale (you do not have to have a PayPal account to utilize this service).
- Total payment for multiple entries may be submitted as a single transaction, however, all payments must be received by NAJA on or before the entry deadline in order for the entry be eligible for judging.
- Checks should be addressed to the Native American Journalists Association: NAJA – OU Gaylord College, 395 W. Lindsey St., Norman, OK 73019.
- Each entry must have a completed entry form and payment. Only complete entries with full payment received on or before the entry deadline will be judged.
- NAJA may not issue refunds but will make every attempt to judge all entries submitted, which may result in some categories or divisions being combined to meet the minimum entry requirement.
- Entrants may reduce their entry fees by volunteering to judge another category / division. For each category judged, entrant may be forgiven one $25 / $50 entry fee. Volunteers may judge up to four categories and may not judge a category in which they are competing. Any known conflicts of interest or preference for categories should be submitted using the judge’s volunteer sign up form.
For questions about the media awards submissions, volunteer judging or payment, contact NAJA Director of Programs and Strategic Partnerships Bryan Pollard at bpollard@naja.com.
