Call for Entries: 2021 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism
Submission deadline is Friday, December 4, 2020
PHILADELPHIA — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is now accepting applications for the 2021 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, a program that raises awareness of the critical role the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research. The submission deadline is Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.
The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established to showcase outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognize individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories. The award carries a $5,000 unrestricted cash prize.
The prize is funded by a major bequest to the AACR from June L. Biedler, PhD, a scientist, mentor, and pioneer in cancer research, and former member of the AACR Board of Directors. In honor of Biedler’s exceptional efforts to further science and health care communications, the prize will reward outstanding journalistic coverage that enhances the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy.
The judging panel includes esteemed journalists, communications professors, cancer researchers, and patient advocates. Past panels have included media professionals who have worked for NBC News, FORTUNE, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, PBS, and ABC News.
The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism is open to print, broadcast, and online professional journalists whose stories appear in media that target a lay public audience. Annually, prizes are considered for six submission categories: large newspaper (circulation over 100,000); small newspaper (circulation under 100,000); magazine; online/multimedia; television; and auditory journalism (radio/podcasts).
The 2020 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism recipients were:
- Auditory Journalism: Michelle Fay Cortez, “How Scared Should We Be of Our DNA?” Bloomberg News, New York
- Large Newspaper: Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, “Would Cancer Get Her Next?” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles
- Magazine: Kelly M. Servick, “War of Nerves,” Science, Washington, D.C.
- Online/Multimedia: Eric S. Boodman, “The Medicine Hunters, Parts I and II,” STAT News, Boston
- Small Newspaper: Jennifer Berry Hawes, “Last Rights,” The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina
- Television: Cynthia E. Newsome and Matt Reeb, “Newsome’s House Calls,” KSHB-41/NBC News, Kansas City, Missouri
For more information on past recipients, please visit the AACR website.
The 2021 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism will be presented during the Opening Ceremony at the next AACR Annual Meeting, scheduled to be held from April 9-14 in Washington, D.C.
For more information or to submit a story to be considered for the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, visit the AACR website or email Michael Powell at [email protected].