National Press Club award honors the finest work of young reporters

From exposing corruption to shining a light on political horse-trading and influence peddling, the finest in political journalism from reporters 34 years old or younger is honored by the National Press Club each year.

The Sandy Hume Award for Excellence in Political Journalism, which carries a $750 prize and plaque, is given annually to the author of an article or series of articles that make an exceptional contribution to the public’s understanding of Congress. The award honors excellence and objectivity in political coverage, recognizing print journalists who produce the most compelling and insightful pieces on the U.S. political process.

Hume was a Washington D.C. native who, as a reporter for The Hill, broke the story of the aborted 1997 coup against then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He committed suicide in 1998. The award was created a year later in his memory.

Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay at the time described Hume “roaming the halls of Congress, hanging out in the Speaker’s lobby, getting insights from so many members of Congress. He had a gift for understanding the news business, and he had a knack for getting the story first.”

Hume, DeLay said, “represented the best of the younger generation… He had an innate sense of right and wrong, an abounding sense of fairness and a healthy skepticism of the political class that served him well as a reporter.”

The winning entry will reflect the best of Hume’s contribution to journalism. Entries should include one article or a series of no more than 5 articles on a single topic. Entrants must demonstrate analytical excellence and a clear knowledge of political issues and personalities. Entrants must be under 35 years old when the entry was published. Entrant’s date of birth must be included. The Sandy Hume award is given out as part of the Press Club’s annual journalism contest.

The deadline for entries to be postmarked is April 1.

For more information: http://press.org/about/awards.