By Betsy Model, President
Each year the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights presents an award to the book that “most faithfully and forcefully reflects Robert Kennedy’s purposes – his concern for the poor and the powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must assure all young people a fair chance, and his faith that a free democracy can act to remedy disparities of power and opportunity.” All books submitted for consideration must have been first published in the U.S. between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Both fiction and nonfiction works are eligible. Books may be submitted by the author or the publisher. The book-award winner will receive a cash prize in the amount of $2,500 and a bust of Robert F. Kennedy.
The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards honor outstanding reporting on issues that reflect Robert Kennedy’s concerns, including human rights, social justice, the power of individual action in the United States and around the world, and reporting on insights into the causes, conditions, and remedies of injustice as well as critical analyses of relevant public policies, programs, attitudes, and private endeavors. Journalism entries must have been published or broadcast in the U.S. for the first time between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Entries may be submitted either by individuals or news organizations. The journalism-award winner in each professional category (print, television, radio, photography, cartoon) will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and a bust of Robert F. Kennedy. The grand prize winner will be announced at the 2011 awards ceremony and will receive an additional cash prize. The award ceremony will take place next May, in Washington, D.C.
Both book and journalism award entries require a fee of $75. Visit here for complete program descriptions and entry procedures.