By Betsy Model, President
The Council on Contemporary Families has announced the opening of nominations for its Ninth Annual Media Awards competition. The awards honor outstanding journalism that contributes to the public understanding of contemporary family issues, in particular the story behind the story: how diverse families are coping with social and economic change; what they need to flourish; and how these needs can best be met. Based at the University of Illinois at Chicago, CCF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of family researchers, mental health and social practitioners, and clinicians dedicated to providing the press and public with the latest research and best-practice findings about American families.
The council will present three awards for outstanding coverage of family issues during 2010: two for journalism in text form (print- or Web-based), and one for broadcast journalism (audio or video). Writers, editors, and producers may self-nominate; CCF members are also encouraged to submit nominations.
Submissions must draw on traditional journalistic techniques of interview, observation, and documentation. Opinion pieces are not eligible. Work must have been published, broadcast, or posted during the 2010 calendar year. Video and radio submissions must not exceed thirty minutes. Written submissions must not exceed 2,000 words; excerpts are acceptable. A series that covers a particular issue over time is eligible.
The award recipients will be honored at the fourteenth annual CCF Conference, “Tipping Point? When Minority Families Become the Majority”, April 8-9, 2011, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Winners are invited to attend the entire conference in full. CCF will cover airfare and hotel expenses for the honorees. At the plenary session where awards are presented, winners are invited to speak for five minutes on emerging issues affecting American families and how CCF members and supporters can help the media cover these stories effectively.
Visit the CCF Web site here for complete program information and a nomination form.