The Sydney Prize is an annual award celebrating excellence in writing and literary work across a broad spectrum. Recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges and receive both a certificate and mesmerising swirl seal designed and made in Sydney by Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy at Dinosaur Designs. Established by Sydney Taylor (deceased), who served as children’s literature and poetry critic at San Francisco Chronicle until his passing in 2005. Each year the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee selects 6-8 books before choosing winner each year who are presented their award at special ceremonies where winners receive their seal seal in late spring before public libraries across San Francisco Chronicle.
Hillman Foundation was established in 1946 as a left-of-center organization that awards monetary prizes to journalists and writers who work towards social justice and public policy for the common good. Prior recipients have included contributors to daily and periodical press, labor organizations, authors of books as well as fellowships for students studying history, science or technology. Although The Hillman Prize remains their main program of recognition, other initiatives may receive awards too.
Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize winners Annie Zhang’s story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’ won this year, taking home $5000 first prize and publication in Overland magazine’s autumn 2024 issue. Two runners-up stories by Sheila Ngoc Pham (‘A Map of Underneath’) and Madeleine Rebbechi (‘Whack-a-Mole’).
University of Sydney academics excelled at Australia’s “Science Oscars”, the Eurekas, by winning four prestigious awards at this year’s ceremony. Horizon Fellow Dr Mengyu Li from the School of Physics won an Outstanding Early Career Researcher prize, Professor Kate Jolliffe from the School of Chemistry received Mentor of Researchers prize and Sensory Conservation Team led by Prof Peter Banks from School of Life and Environmental Sciences won the Environmental Research prize – making their presence felt at all three awards ceremonies!
The Sydney H Schanberg Prize recognizes outstanding long-form journalism written by U.S. citizens or permanent residents on an issue of global importance. Awarded annually by George Polk judges, it comes with a $25,000 cash prize. The winning work represents outstanding, in-depth reporting on armed conflicts; local, state or federal government corruption; military injustice; war crimes, genocide or sedition; or authoritarian government abuses. This award was established by Sydney Schanberg’s family and funded by New York Times and Newsday founders to honor her legacy of advocating truthfulness and fairness in journalistic pursuits. Applications must contain at least 5,000 words of journalism that demonstrates Schanberg’s dedication to journalism’s ideals and is highly competitive and rigorous, featuring interviews and an evaluation of applicants’ work portfolios.