Reed Environmental Writing Award Information

Contest Requirements

SELC's annual Phillip D. Reed Memorial Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment seeks to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the region’s natural heritage by giving special recognition to writers who most effectively tell the stories about the South’s environment.

There are two categories for entries: Book, for works of non-fiction (not self-published),and Journalism, for newspaper and magazine writing - and new this year, we will accept online writing that is published by a recognized institution such as a newspaper, university or non-profit organization, and is journalistic in nature. The primary judging criteria is the quality of writing. Prizes of $1,000 are awarded to the winner in each category. Winners will be announced during the Virginia Festival of the Book, held each year in Charlottesville at the end of March.

For Reed Award 2010:

Entries must be published during 2009.
Minimum length of 3,000 words per entry. Awards go to an individual writer, or are split among two co-writers per entry. Submissions with more than two authors must indicate which two are being nominated, and each must meet the minimum word requirement.

  • Entries must relate to the natural resources in at least one of SELC’s states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia.
  • Nominations can be made by anyone, including the author or publisher.
  • Entries must be received by January 11, 2010.
  • Send 16 copies, at least one of which must be an original format to verify publication. Send to: Reed Award, SELC, 201 W. Main Street, Ste 14, Charlottesville, VA  22902. Submissions cannot be returned.
  • For Journalism entries, articles published as a series are accepted, as are collections of articles unrelated to one another, as long as each article pertains to the environment in one of the six states listed above. The entry as a whole must meet the minimum word length. Entries must be accompanied by a digital version (email or CD) to verify word length.


Press release with contest information
Printable PDF of the release (please spread the news!)
 

Click here for a list of Reed Award judges
Click here for a list of Reed Award past winners
Click here for a 4-page pamphlet about the award (pdf)

 

"Government, business and environmental organizations all have an important role to play when it comes to protecting the environment. Yet the most profound and lasting changes will come from ordinary people making better choices in how they live. An informed citizenry is the cornerstone of our democracy. We rely on the journalists and writers who tell the stories of our natural world and give voice to the rivers, forests and wildlife. Each year, the Southern Environmental Law Center provides a valuable public service in honoring those writers whose work contributes to our understanding of our relationship with the Earth with the annual Phillip D. Reed Memorial Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment."  - Al Gore 2004

 

For more information contact:
Cathryn McCue cmccue -at- selcva -dot- org
Reed Writing Award Administrator
Southern Environmental Law Center
201 West Main Street, Suite 14 Charlottesville, VA
22902-5065 (434) 977-4090

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