Submissions for the CANADIAN Hillman Prize in Journalism - Deadline January
31, 2011

Inaugural Canadian Prize Honours Journalism that fosters
Social and Economic Justice

TORONTO, Nov. 9 /CNW/ - The Sidney Hillman Foundation is now accepting nominations and submissions for the 2011 Canadian Hillman Prize, honouring investigative journalism that fosters social and economic justice.

The 2011 prize will be given to one reported piece or series produced, published, broadcast or exhibited in 2010. Eligible entries include reporting in newspapers, magazines, and online, as well as film and broadcast journalism (television and radio), and photojournalism. Editors, photo editors, producers, and reporters are urged to submit nominations now. The contest is open to journalists and subjects globally, although the content must have been published in Canada. The postmark deadline for submissions is January 31, 2011.  A winner will be announced in early March 2011.

Note, Canadian authors who wish to nominate a book (non-fiction) for consideration must apply to the US Hillman Prizes as books are not being accepted in Canada in this inaugural year.

The winner of the Canadian Hillman Prize will be awarded travel to receive a certificate and a $5,000 prize at a reception to be held Tuesday March 22, 2011 in Toronto. The winner will also get to travel to New York City to participate in the US awards ceremony to be held May 19, 2011. The Canadian winner will also be listed among all 2011 Hillman Prize winners in the announcement that runs in the New York Times and be recognized on the Hillman Foundation website.

There is no submission fee. A cover letter and four copies of the nominated material are all that is required. For photojournalism entries, we would most like to see tear sheets (photos as they were published) but scanned work on discs is also acceptable and/or can be supplemental.

Submissions are judged by a distinguished panel of Canadian judges: Jim Stanford, Economist with the Canadian Auto Workers, Canada's largest private-sector trade union and columnist for the Globe and Mail; Lazlo Barna, Gemini Award-winning executive producer; and Linda McQuaig, columnist for the Toronto Star and best-selling author.

Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honoured journalists, writers and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy for the common good. Sidney Hillman was the founding president of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union of America, a predecessor union of Workers United, SEIU. Sidney Hillman, an architect of the New Deal, fought to build a vibrant union movement extending beyond the shop floor to all aspects of workers' lives. 

"Eleven Canadian writers, broadcasters and photojournalists submitted work to the 2010 Hillman Prize in the United States and a number of them were shortlisted," said Alex Dagg, Canadian Director of Workers United. "We are very excited to offer this very important prize to a Canadian whose work this year made a difference to the lives of Canadians and we look forward to adding more prizes in the future."

Please forward all nominations/submissions to:

Stephanie Bell
Media Profile
500-579 Richmond Street West  Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1Y6
416-342-1839
[email protected]

For further information:

For more information and to see past winners, please visit the website at www.hillmanfoundation.org.