How to Enter
The Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Television Political Journalism
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The call for entries is now closed. Winners will be announced in May 2021.
Entry Guidelines
Since 2001, the Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Television Political Journalism have showcased and encouraged outstanding coverage that helps viewers understand the issues, the candidates and how their votes will affect their lives.
Those qualities will again be honored in 2021. But the winners of this election cycle’s awards will be journalism that primarily focuses on one of these three topics:
In addition to recognizing excellence, Cronkite judges invite evidence of impact — journalism that makes a difference, performs a service, offers and examines solutions.
The 2021 Brooks Jackson Prize for Fact-Checking Political Messages will focus on pandemic science — coverage that addresses and corrects COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories. Up to two Jackson Fact-Checking Prizes will be awarded; entries may be local or national.
Those qualities will again be honored in 2021. But the winners of this election cycle’s awards will be journalism that primarily focuses on one of these three topics:
- the pandemic
- systemic racism
- the integrity and legitimacy of elections.
In addition to recognizing excellence, Cronkite judges invite evidence of impact — journalism that makes a difference, performs a service, offers and examines solutions.
The 2021 Brooks Jackson Prize for Fact-Checking Political Messages will focus on pandemic science — coverage that addresses and corrects COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories. Up to two Jackson Fact-Checking Prizes will be awarded; entries may be local or national.
Eligibility
Entries can come from individuals or programs; from local for-profit or public stations, located in markets of any size; from station ownership groups; from national for-profit or public broadcast or cable networks; and from online-original video news sites.
Entries will compete with other entries about the same topic — pandemic, racism, election integrity — regardless of how or where they were produced or distributed.
An eligible entry must have aired during the current election cycle. For coverage of the 2020 campaign and election, the air-date cutoff will be January 21, 2021.
Entries will compete with other entries about the same topic — pandemic, racism, election integrity — regardless of how or where they were produced or distributed.
An eligible entry must have aired during the current election cycle. For coverage of the 2020 campaign and election, the air-date cutoff will be January 21, 2021.
Selection Process
There is no entry fee.
Prospective Cronkite Award entrants should submit a reel of no more than 30 minutes in length, in addition to a narrative, describing the reel's subject matter and evidence of its excellence (and, if relevant, its impact). Entries, grouped by subject matter, will be reviewed and scored by a panel of screeners — USC Annenberg alumni and affiliates with extensive journalism experience. Based on screener recommendations, a shortlist of entrants will be reviewed by a jury of USC Annenberg faculty, alumni and affiliates, selecting a local and national winners in each subject matter category. Brooks Jackson Fact-Checking Prize entries are reviewed by a separate jury at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, who will select winners. |
TimelineEntry Deadline: February 22, 2021
Winners announced: May 2021 Virtual awards ceremony: Spring 2021 |