The Sidney Prize honors journalism that illuminates the great issues of our day: from the search for a basis for lasting peace to the need for better housing, medical care and employment security; the fight for civil liberties and democracy; and the battle against discrimination based on race, nationality or religion. Since its founding in 1950, the Hillman Foundation has awarded a variety of prizes to journalists for their commitment to this work. The Hillman Prizes, which have been given in the United States and Canada, have honored journalists for their investigative reporting and deep storytelling skill in service of social justice.
A monthly award for outstanding investigative journalism that exposes social injustices. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges and announced on the second Wednesday of each month. The prize is named in memory of Sidney Hollander, a Baltimore businessman who devoted his time and resources to working toward the advancement of equality for African Americans.
Winners receive a $500 honorarium. Their works are published in Overland and on our website. The winning submissions are also entered into the annual Sidney Awards for Excellence, which is awarded at our annual ceremony in New York City.
The Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize is supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. The 2024 judging panel of Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh reviewed over 500 submissions to choose the winner, who will receive $5000 and have their story published in Overland. Two runners-up will each receive $750.
Winners are selected by a panel of judges and announced on our website. The prize is named in memory of Sidney Lanier, a 19th-century poet who was born in Macon, Georgia. The use of his name recognizes Middle Georgia’s literary heritage and the long tradition of writing about the region. It honors those who continue to engage and extend that tradition, and who make the South a richer and more diverse place.
We are currently accepting nominations for our various prize awards. Check the individual pages for details on how to nominate a work. Nominations will close on May 15, 2025.
This prize is given to undergraduate students for papers written as part of a course or independent study. The papers are subject to review by scholars in the field. Prizes are accompanied by a monetary award and an invitation to present the paper at a Wittenberg East Asian Studies Conference. The prize is administered by the Center for International and Comparative Law and sponsored by Roberts & Holland LLP. The prize is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Papers must be between 10 and 30 pages double spaced. The submission portal is here.