Bruce Jesson Journalism Awards 2010: Call for Nominations
The Bruce Jesson Foundation was established in 1999 to commemorate one of New Zealand’s greatest political journalists,
the late Bruce Jesson, by promoting vigorous political, social and economic investigation, debate, analysis and
reporting in New Zealand. To this end, the Foundation holds an annual lecture and sponsors two annual Bruce Jesson Journalism Prizes for ‘Senior’ and ‘Emerging’ journalists respectively.
The Senior Journalism Prize offers an emolument of up to NZ$3,000 to assist writers aiming to produce the kind of critical and analytical
journalism exemplified by Jesson’s work as a columnist in Metro magazine, as editor of The Republican and as the author of several influential pieces of book journalism. The prize is a self-nominated award dedicated to in-depth journalism projects on public issues that might not be undertaken, completed, or published
without non-commercial subsidy.
The Emerging Journalism Prize recognises “outstanding recent work by New Zealand print journalism students.” It shares the senior award’s broad aim
of seeking "critical, informed, analytical and creative journalism or writing which will contribute to public debate in
New Zealand on an important issue or issues," but it differs in three important respects:
• It is focused more narrowly on the already published work of print journalism students (though, exceptional unpublished work may occasionally be considered).
• It seeks nominations from heads of New Zealand Journalism Schools or journalism programme leaders rather than from the student journalists themselves.
• It offers a fixed emolument of NZ$500, together with certificates of commendation for one or more runners-up.
Nominations for the 2010 Bruce Jesson Journalism Prizes are hereby sought from either the writers themselves in the case
of the senior journalism award, or from heads of New Zealand journalism schools or journalism programme leaders in the
case of the emerging journalism award. Nominees’ work will be assessed by members of the Jesson Foundation’s Journalism
Subcommittee: Jon Stephenson (convener), Joe Atkinson, Simon Collins and David Robie.
Nominations together with appropriate supporting documentation including, for the emerging journalism award, copies of
the nominated articles, should be forwarded by Monday, June 30, 2010 to Dr Joe Atkinson, Secretary of the Bruce Jesson Foundation by email j.atkinson@auckland.ac.nz, or in hard copy c/- Political Studies Department, University of Auckland, PB 92019, AUCKLAND.
Further inquiries to Dr Atkinson by mail or email as above or by phone (09) 373 7599 ext. 88094, or to Associate Professor David Robie by
email david.robie@aut.ac.nz, or phone (09) 921 9999 extn 7834
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Patron: Professor Noam Chomsky Chair: Professor Jane Kelsey Secretary: Dr Joe Atkinson
Senior Journalism Prize – Background
Criteria
Criteria for the award are non-political and non-sectarian. The fund is open to anyone proposing in-depth analysis,
regardless of the writer's political viewpoint. The criteria are:
1. You propose to produce or publish a work of critical, informed, analytical and creative journalism or writing which
will contribute to public debate in New Zealand on an important issue or issues.
2. The work may take the form of an article, report, pamphlet, book, radio or television programme, film, website or any
other publication which is aimed at, and accessible by, the general public of New Zealand or any part of New Zealand.
3. You have provided a detailed budget showing that you are unable to produce the work without advance funding to cover
direct costs and/or living costs while researching or producing the work.
4. You have tried, and have been unable, to get adequate funds from all possible sources including, where appropriate,
media outlets and other publishers. (This would clearly NOT be appropriate if the work will be critical of such media
outlets or publishers).
5. You can demonstrate, at an interview and on the basis of past work and/or references, that you are capable of
producing the proposed work with enough accuracy, insight and flair for it to have an impact in New Zealand public
debate.
Previous winners
Winners to date have been:
* 2004: Wellington researcher Tina McIvor for an investigation into Work and Income’s treatment of beneficiaries judged
to be living in marriage-type relationships; and writer Nicky Hager for a planned book on New Zealand foreign policy.
* 2005: Freelance journalist Jon Stephenson for a two-part report from Iraq which appeared in Metro magazine and won
France's prestigious Prix Bayeux-Calvados.
* 2006: Wellington freelancer Amie Richardson for a series of investigative articles on rest homes in the Listener.
* 2007: Auckland freelancer Peter Malcouronne for an upcoming piece for North & South reflecting on New Zealand's economic growth.
* 2008: Auckland journalist Keith Mexsom for a planned book on he history of Auckland's transport policy.
There was no award in 2009.
ENDS