Programs at the duPont Center
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Center for Excellence in Broadcast and Digital News is dedicated to upholding the highest standards in journalism by:
- Honoring the best in broadcast and digital reporting
- Informing the public about the contributions news organizations and journalists make to their communities and to the world
- Supporting journalism education and innovation
- Cultivating a collective spirit for the profession
These are achieved through the following programs:
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards
Each year out of hundreds of submitted news pieces, a small handful are considered outstanding based on the strength of reporting, storytelling and societal impact. A jury comprised of some of the industry’s most experienced and respected journalists view and vet the work of their colleagues to select winners who are honored at a ceremony held at Columbia University.
The Winners’ Circle
The Winners’ Circle began as a post-award ceremony panel for broadcast students of the Columbia School of Journalism to hear from the most recent duPont-Columbia Award winning reporters. The event has grown into a interdisciplinary forum for all university members to engage with and learn from the teams of correspondents, multimedia producers and editors who are behind the most innovative and exciting news journalism being created today. Students take advantage of receiving valuable career advice and insight about covering beats from international news to local investigative stories. The range of discussions include the challenges and opportunities of the medium, ethical considerations, and managing and imagining new technological and industry developments.
duPont-Columbia Awards Public Events
A year-round program of panels, broadcast interviews, film and video screenings, and more that are produced in partnership with the University and other media and journalism institutions highlighting established and emerging leaders who make the news, are in the news, or use the news including journalists, scientists, political leaders, architects, multimedia producers, and entrepreneurs.
Graduate Student Research Fellowship
Since 1969, graduate students have worked at the duPont-Columbia Awards, assisting the program as well as learning about journalism in the public service by closely witnessing the awards process. Today, the duPont-Columbia Awards provides a competitive scholarship towards graduate school tuition for two duPont-Columbia Graduate Research Fellows. Helping to grow the next generation of duPont winners is critical to the future of the program and important to society.