2026 John Bartlow Martin Award for Public Interest Magazine Journalism Nomination Form

2026 John Bartlow Martin Award for Public Interest Magazine Journalism Nomination Form

Submissions must have been published during the previous calendar year. Medill welcomes articles in a magazine or narrative style, published in print or digital media outlets. Newsletters are excluded, but circulation size is not a criterion of the award. Entries may be submitted by either authors or publications. The award will go to the author(s). If submitting a series, please stick to entries that are actual planned series, rather than evidence of ongoing coverage of a given area. You may enter a maximum of three parts. If entering more than one article, please combine them into one PDF document. PLEASE NOTE that if the series or package has one especially strong entry, it may be better to only enter the one story. Weak packages or weaker stories in a series of stories that are not clearly connected sometimes diminish the strength of the overall entry. You may include a letter supporting the entry. This is also a good place to mention a package or follow up stories rather than submitting all three. The letter should include information about the importance and impact of the article(s). The letter should be included as the first page of the PDF entry.

Entries from international publications are eligible, but the topic should shed light on the causes, consequences and remedies of problems in American society. The work should analyze and critique the policies, relationships and events behind these problems and solutions. Originality, excellence of writing and the impact of the article(s) also will be considered.

DEADLINE TO ENTER: Jan. 9th, 2026

Direct questions to Jenna Braunstein at jenna-braunstein@northwestern.edu