Entry Process: duPont-Columbia Awards
Honoring the Best in Television and Radio News Programming
We are no longer accepting entries for the current round of judging.
The entry form is available for reference only. If you are interested in receiving an entry form in May 2009, please send your name, title, mailing address and email address to dupontawards@jrn.columbia.edu.
The duPont Awards will be presented January 28, 2009.
The duPont-Columbia Awards have recognized excellence in broadcast journalism since their inception in 1942. Created by Jessie Ball duPont as a tribute to the journalistic integrity and public-mindedness of her husband, Alfred I. duPont, these awards are now regarded as the most prestigious prizes in television and radio news, the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizes, which are also administered at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
WE INVITE YOU to submit entries in the following categories:
• Network and Nationally Distributed Cable Programs
• Major Market Stations (DMA 1-10)
• Medium Market Stations (DMA 11-50)
• Small Market Stations (DMA 51 and higher)
• Independent Productions
• Local Radio
• National Radio
ELIGIBILITY
• Programs must have aired for the first time in the United States between July 1,2007, and June 30, 2008.
• Entries that aired in the U.S. in languages other than English are eligible, as long as they are accompanied by English subtitles on screen or a complete transcript in English. Onscreen subtitles are preferred.
• Programs that are principally historical re-enactments with actors and costumes are not eligible for duPont consideration. However, journalistic treatments of historical periods and their relevance to current issues are eligible.
• See FAQs at www.dupont.org.
ENTRY DEADLINES
Long-form entries running longer than 2 hours must be postmarked by June 15. All other entries must be postmarked by July 1. Extensions will be granted at the sole discretion of the Director.
ENTRIES WILL BE REVIEWED by a Board of Screeners, many of whom are past duPont Award winners. The Board of Screeners will refer the best programs to the duPont Jury. Finalists will be selected in the fall, and the awards will be presented at Columbia University in January 2009.
WHAT MAKES A DUPONT WINNER?
The duPont Jury looks for excellence in reporting and evidence of commitment to important stories. We especially encourage the submission of daily news stories and breaking news coverage as well as feature stories, a series of related reports or selections from a correspondent’s beat reporting in a given year. A series of reports or a submission of a single reporter’s work should demonstrate consistently high quality over time. If you are submitting a correspondent’s coverage of a beat during the eligibility period, please submit reports in their entirety with studio introductions, if possible. We will not accept edited “highlight” reels.
BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE
If you are submitting coverage of a breaking news story like Hurricane Katrina, the duPont Jury prefers to receive only one consolidated entry from a news organization. Please include entire segments in chronological order separated by a few seconds of black. Please list these segments on paper, giving the air date for each segment. The duPont Jury looks for insightful coverage sustained throughout the event or crisis and afterward. We will not accept narrated highlight reels, and the submission may not exceed 2 hours. The entry deadline for breaking news coverage is July 1.
LOCAL STATIONS TAKE NOTE
The duPont Jury is especially interested in reporting by local radio and television stations about community issues. In recent years, local stations have received duPont Awards for outstanding coverage of racial conflicts, corruption, child abuse, poverty, the environment, and reporting on local institutions.
SUPPORTING MATERIAL
The duPont Jury invites original Web site material to be submitted in conjunction with specific television and radio news entries. Web material should be kept live through January 2009 with a url designated /dupont. A DVD and printout of Web material should also be enclosed with the submission.
CHECKLIST OF WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• 2 DVDs for each television entry; 2 CDs for each radio entry. Please exclude commercials.
• A brief program description that conveys what you believe makes your entry exceptional along with answers to any relevant funding questions on the entry form.
• Entry fee (see form). Columbia’s tax ID is 13-559-8093. Please make checks payable to
Columbia University. We cannot accept credit card payments.
• Optional materials such as Web sites, transcripts, reviews, photos or press releases, if available.
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at 212-854-5047, e-mail us at dupontawards@jrn.columbia.edu or visit our Web site at www.dupont.org for answers to frequently asked questions.
SEND TO
The Alfred I. duPont Center
Columbia University
Graduate School of Journalism
2950 Broadway, MC 3805
New York, NY 10027
You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your entry. Entries will not be returned. Finalists will be contacted in November, and winners will be announced in January 2009.
duPont entry form (writable PDF) 
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