The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

• Prize Summary
• Who Can Apply
• Categories
• Application Instructions
• Submit a Story
• Judging Panel Prize Selection
• About June L. Biedler, PhD 

Prize Summary

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established by the AACR in 2015 to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research.

Funded by a major bequest to the AACR from cancer research pioneer Dr. June L. Biedler, a scientist, mentor, and former member of the AACR Board of Directors, this prize showcases outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognizes individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy.

The prize provides an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 and a commemorative award.

Who Can Apply

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism is open to print, broadcast, and online professional journalists whose stories appear in newspapers, magazines, websites, and broadcast platforms that target lay public audiences.

Prizes are intended to honor individual journalists. However, up to two additional contributors can be included at the time of submission. If selected, contributors will share the cash prize, and each will receive a personalized commemorative award.

There are no fees associated with submissions.

Trade publications as well as institutions and/or organizations are ineligible to receive the prize.

Categories

An applicant can submit in any of the following categories:

Print and Online

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Online/multimedia

Broadcast

• Television/radio/podcasts

Each submission may only be considered for one category as selected by the candidate in his or her application form.

Application Instructions

Eligibility

• Submissions must have been published or broadcast for the first time between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024.
• The submission must enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy. 
• Candidacy is open to journalists whose primary audience is the lay public.
• The submission must be in English, or accurately translated into English.
• More than one individual may share the prize as contributors, with a maximum of two representatives invited to attend the AACR Annual Meeting to accept the prize if the prize is shared.
• Institutions or organizations are not eligible for the prize.

Prize Acceptance

Awardees will be able to accept the prize during the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

Submission Process

Submissions may be placed by an individual, whether an AACR member or nonmember.
Applicants must maintain strict confidentiality of their submissions; all nominations must be submitted using AACR’s electronic award nomination platform. Paper nominations will not be accepted.

Eligible submissions must include the following:

• Applicant information and indication of prize category.
• Impact Statement written in English (Max: 200 words), which succinctly describes the submitted body of work and the impact of the submission on enhancing the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy.
• An electronic version of the submitted body of work. An English translation will need to be provided for all non-English pieces.

The deadline for submission is Monday, December 23, 2024.

Submit a Story

Contact Information

Inquiries about the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism guidelines, eligibility requirements, or applications should be directed to Elizabeth Hubbard, [email protected].

Judging Panel PRize Selection

• Eligible submissions will be considered by a judging panel consisting of experts from diverse professional backgrounds, including esteemed journalists, communications faculty, cancer researchers, and patient advocates appointed by the AACR President. The AACR’s conflict of interest policy will be enforced throughout the entire prize submission and review process.
• Judging panels will evaluate eligible submissions according to the following criteria:
  • Outstanding ability to educate the public about cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy;
  • Effective and accurate translation of cancer science or cancer policy;
  • Significance and timeliness of the associated subject;
  • Creativity and novelty of the reporting;
  • Clarity, precision, and elegance of language used within body of work;
  • Ability to inform the reader on the associated topic area;
  • Ability to break new ground and/or highlight the need for further attention or support of an underrepresented or misunderstood subject; and
  • Overall potential for significant impact on the understanding of cancer, cancer research, and/or cancer policy.
• After judging panel deliberations, primary and alternate prize recipient recommendations for each category (if applicable) will be relayed to the AACR Executive Committee for formal ratification.
• Selection of prize recipients shall be made on the basis of the candidate’s professional accomplishments without regard to race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.

About June L. Biedler, PhD

June L. Biedler, PhD, was a dedicated member of the AACR, a former member of the board of directors, a recipient of the AACR G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award, and a distinguished scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Above all, she was a remarkable human being who cared deeply about furthering science and health communications and educating the lay public about the importance of cancer research.

Dr. Biedler passed away in 2012, but her contributions to the AACR have continued. In October 2014, her estate made a gift to the AACR, the largest bequest in AACR history. As a result of her generous gift, the AACR has established the AACR June L. Biedler Cancer Journalism Prize Program. Since the inception of the award, 49 journalists from around the world have been awarded the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism.