David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News

The David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism – News is an annual award recognizing excellence in science news reporting, defined as work prepared with a deadline of one week or less. It is presented annually to a journalist or a group of journalists for a news story or series in any medium, except books, that makes information about the Earth and space sciences accessible and interesting to the general public.

Scientific Disciplines represented by AGU

• Atmospheric and Space Electricity
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Biogeosciences
• Cryosphere Sciences
• Earth and Planetary Surface Processes
• Education
• Geodesy
• GeoHealth
• Geomagnetism, Paleomagnetism and Electromagnetism
• Global Environmental Change
• Hydrology
• Informatics
• Mineral and Rock Physics
• Natural Hazards
• Near-Surface Geophysics
• Nonlinear Geophysics
• Ocean Sciences
• Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
• Planetary Sciences
• Seismology
• Science and Society
• Space Physics and Aeronomy
• Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior
• Tectonophysics
• Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology

Honor Benefits

• Recipients receive the following:
  • A $5,000 prize
  • An engraved award
  • Recognition in Eos
  • Recognition at AGU’s annual meeting the year the honor is awarded
  • Paid travel expenses up to $1,000
  • Two tickets to the Honors Banquet at AGU’s annual meeting the year the honor is awarded
• Note: As members of the press, awardees also receive complimentary registration to AGU’s Annual Meeting

Financial Incentives

• Five percent participation from primary affiliated members – $1,000 contribution from AGU to your section
• Seven percent participation from primary affiliated members – $2,000 contribution from AGU to your section
• 10 percent participation from primary affiliated members – $3,000 contribution from AGU to your section
• 12 percent participation from primary affiliated members – $4,000 contribution from AGU to your section
• 15 percent or greater participation from primary affiliated members – $5,000 contribution from AGU to your section

Eligibility Criteria

• Nominee
  • The nominee(s) must:
    • be a journalist working in any medium, except books
    • be an author or contributor of the submitted report
    • be a freelance journalist OR employed with a print/electronic publication or broadcast/cable station or network
    • submit only one entry for the award in a given year
    • not have won the Perlman award during the past two years.
  • In addition:
    • Groups of up to four authors/contributors may be included in the nomination.
    • Self-nominations are accepted.
    • Nominees are not required to be AGU members.
• Nominators
  • Are not required to be AGU members.
• All Parties
  • Must be in compliance with AGU’s conflict of interest and professional conduct policies.

Criteria for a Successful Nomination

• The selection committee considers the following:
  • News stories or series that:
    • bring new information or concepts about AGU sciences to the public’s attention;
    • identify and correct misconceptions about AGU sciences, or makes them accessible and interesting to general audiences without sacrificing accuracy.
  • Accuracy, initiative, and clarity.
  • Whether the story was published first, before other media outlets.
  • Whether the story contains information of exceptional originality, importance, surprise, or secrecy.
• Additionally, the news story or series must:
  • be about one or more of the Scientific Disciplines Represented by AGU;
  • have been intended for, and available to, the general public;
  • be in English (or include an English translation).
• A series is eligible to be judged as one entry if:
  • each segment of a series was identified at the time of publication as being part of the series; or
  • the series includes coverage of an ongoing activity, such as a scientific society meeting or a natural event.
  • Note that no more than three segments of any series may be submitted for judging.
• Note:
  • If an individual has multiple works nominated for a single award, AGU staff will contact the nominee to ask which they’d prefer to advance for consideration. Individuals may only submit one work for consideration for an award.

For more information, visit AGU.