Since 2002, this award has been established in memory of Dr. Sidney Louis Wagman ’51 for his lifelong dedication to higher ideals. Each year it recognizes exceptional investigative or enterprise journalism that receives an annual prize and comes with a cash award of $25,000. A panel of George Polk judges selects their recipient and publishes it in The New York Times Magazine.
David Brooks of The New York Times honored Helen Andrews’ essay in First Things entitled “Shame Storm” with one of his 2024 Sidney Awards. Andrews provides an amazing account of online hatred; her ex-partner went on a rant televised against her about what an allegedly cruel person she is; this entire process being witnessed live. Andrews not only is an accomplished writer but is a brave woman as well.
Matt Labash of the Weekly Standard earned a Sidney for his sympathetic yet engaging profile of Marion Barry, former Washington, D.C. mayor, crack smoker and recently girlfriend-stalker. Labash managed to capture both Barry’s reckless nature as well as his sense of fair play; showing how his constituents possess him while simultaneously cursing him and stalking him.
The Society for the History of Technology awarded York University Professor Edward Jones-Imhotep its 2018 Sidney Edelstein Prize — considered one of the highest honors in his field – last night. The prize honoring its founder includes $3500 and an engraved plaque; its predecessor prize, known as Dexter Prize was previously known.
Sidney Altman shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas R. Cech for their groundbreaking discovery that RNA, once thought to simply transport genetic codes between parts of a cell, actually helps chemical reactions within cells, providing vital insight into understanding life functions. This groundbreaking discovery opened up new fields of study and increased our knowledge about living systems.
Each year, the Sydney Morning Herald offers its readers an opportunity to write about what excites and informs them about Australia and what more people could understand about certain issues. The winner gets to spend a day working in our newsroom while winning $1000; two runners-up receive $500 prizes plus 12-month digital subscriptions.
Overland invites writers to submit essays of up to 5,000 words on the theme “What is Australia’s greatest strength?” Entries close on Monday 2 October and will be judged by senior Herald editors and Tara June Winch.
The Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize offers Australian writers who are striving to break through to international audiences the chance to have their work read by readers around the globe. Open to writers of all ages and nationalities who have not previously published, Overland subscribers may enter this competition at a special discounted rate; see full guidelines here.