Monday, August 12, 2002

Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership announced

The Freedom Forum, in partnership with the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME) and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), announces the Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership. Two awards funded by the Freedom Forum will be given annually, one for newspapers with a circulation of up to 50,000; the other for newspapers larger than 50,000 circulation.

The awards will go to individuals, newsrooms or teams of journalists who embody the spirit of McGruder, the late executive editor of the Detroit Free Press and a relentless diversity champion. Jurors seek nominees who have made a significant contribution during a given year or over a number of years to furthering the cause of diversity in content and in recruiting, developing and retaining journalists of color.

Eligibility: Individuals, newsrooms or teams of journalists from U.S. daily newspapers are eligible. A nominee's newspaper must participate in ASNE’s annual employment census.

The awards recognize achievement for the year from October-September or contributions over a number of years.

Criteria: The Diversity Leadership Awards honor an individual, a newsroom or a team of journalists for significant leadership in diversity through:

• Content: by reflecting accurately a diverse community in a way that demonstrates community and industry leadership. The definition of diversity includes ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious background, political philosophy and physical ability.
• Recruitment: by providing opportunities for journalists of color to learn about newspapers as a career and enter the newspaper industry in internships and full-time jobs.
• Development: by offering opportunities for journalists of color to grow in their current roles and receive mentoring and training to advance to positions of greater authority or responsibility.
• Retention: by ensuring that journalists of color want to remain in the newspaper industry by providing an inclusive work environment that offers opportunities to contribute and advance.

Nominations can be made by individuals, newspapers, professional organizations, schools of journalism and others.

To make a nomination, send a letter (of no more than three pages) outlining specific information about achievements and how they benefited the community, the industry and journalists of color. The letter should include the name of the person making the nomination and his/her signature and telephone number.

A nomination may be supplemented with clips. No more than 10 examples should accompany the nomination, and copies should be no larger than 11 by 17 inches.

Send material to: Kate Kennedy, director/partnerships and initiatives, Freedom Forum, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209; kkennedy@freedomforum.org; 703/284-3932.