2025 Explanatory Reporting, Small
Ends on
STOP!
Before you proceed, be sure you're in the right category!
Every year some entries have to be discarded because they were entered in the wrong category. While SEJ tries to contact entrants to move their entries to the right category, we can't alway reach them. Sometimes the mistake isn't discovered until it's too late in the judging schedule to have them moved.
Please read the description of this category, below, and if you've made a mistake, return to the Categories list and select the correct category.
If you're not sure about whether your entry belongs in a Large or Small category,
- Read the eligibility rules below.
- Visit the TV and Audio Market links for broadcast stories.
- Ask your editor about newsroom size for print and online stories.
- Remember: small newsgroups collaborating with large newsgroups must enter Large categories.
2025 Explanatory Reporting, Small:
A story, series or occasional series that illuminates a significant, complex environmental subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, storytelling and clear presentation, published or aired by a single news organization. Entries must be published between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. Up to five stories are allowed. Related stories and sidebars published the same day count as one story. A series that began or ended outside the contest window (May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025) is eligible in its entirety up to the five-story limit.
TEXT: Stories that are predominantly text and appear in print or online outlets.
- Large Market: Stories published by news organizations with more than 100 full-time editorial employees (including reporters, editors, copy editors, art directors and others directly engaged in producing journalism). If an entry was produced with external resources — contractors, freelancers, etc. — that number must be included when determining size.
- Small Market: All other stories that are predominantly text. Small newsgroups collaborating with large newsgroups must enter Large categories.
MULTIMEDIA: Stories that are predominantly video, audio, photos, or graphics, and appear in broadcast, cable, online or print outlets.
- Large Market: Stories produced for national television and radio outlets and for local television and radio outlets in the top 50 television and top 100 audio markets in the U.S. and in equivalent markets outside the U.S.
- Small market: All other stories that are predominantly video, audio, photos, or graphics. Small newsgroups collaborating with large newsgroups must enter Large categories.
ELIGIBILITY
- Recorded stories' total combined run time must not exceed 60 minutes.
- Stories substantively edited after April 30, 2025, aren’t eligible.
- Stories entered more than once in SEJ's Awards aren’t eligible. Duplicates will be discarded.
- Only stories published or aired by the original media outlet are eligible. The form will ask where stories have been republished or re-aired, but only the original stories are eligible to be judged.
- Republished or rebroadcast stories aren't eligible.
See complete rules.
DEADLINES
On-time entry deadline: June 30, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Late-entry deadline (with additional fee): July 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.