The 2024 MRE Journalism Contest honors journalists covering military, security and defense news who produced outstanding media content during 2023.
WASHINGTON, May 13 — The Military Reporters & Editors (MRE) annual journalism contest opens for its 20th year on Friday, May 17 with streamlined awards reflecting changes in how news is gathered and disseminated globally, and how news is presented across expanding platforms and mediums.
This year journalists communicating news via the written word – in print (e.g., newspapers, magazines, online, trade publications) can submit work in three categories – breaking news, enterprise writing, and investigative journalism with divisions in three newly defined media markets based on size and distribution.
The winner of the James Crawley Award will receive a $400 prize. Jim Crawley was the chief military reporter at the San Diego Union-Tribune who later covered national security and veterans affairs for Media General News Service. The award is chosen by the judges from print journalism entries and is not for individual submission.
Highlighting awards available to print journalists is the Joseph L. Galloway Award for Distinguished Journalism, named after UPI combat correspondent and McClatchy Newspapers columnist, Joe Galloway. This is for the Best of Show as determined by the judges from all the print journalism entries and not for individual submission. It comes with a $1,000 award this year.
Recognition of broadcast media journalists includes awards for excellence in television news in two divisions, a television documentary or series and for best radio feature. New this year is an award for best podcast. Distinction in commentary writing by a print journalist and outstanding photojournalism are also rewarded. Rounding out the MRE awards, work produced by a current journalism student will be recognized for its promise.
Faculty at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Washington, D.C.., provide judging of the annual competition, independent of MRE. Ivan Meyers, senior lecturer and director of operations at Medill, oversees and coordinates the panel of experts each year.
Awards will be presented during a ceremony at the annual MRE conference in Washington, D.C.
Overview
The contest is open to print, digital, broadcast, and visual journalists or teams who covered the military, military affairs, troops or veterans and their families, or national security, defense or war, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023. Journalism students are also encouraged to participate.
MRE members and non-members are invited to apply. Those with MRE membership are entitled to one free entry, in one category. This makes now an ideal time to apply to Military Reporters & Editors for a MRE Media Membership or MRE Student Membership – before the contest opens – so there is no delay submitting a contest entry while waiting for membership approval.
The submission deadline for all entries is June 14. Winners will be announced upon the conclusion of judging, allowing adequate time for planning and attendance at the awards presentation in October.
Additional details are available on the Military Reporters & Editors website. You may enter the contest at the following url: https://www.mrecontest.org.
MRE | Military Reporters & Editors Mission
- Advance the public understanding of the military, national security, and homeland defense.
- Represent the interests of working journalists to the government and military.
- Assure journalists have access to places where the U.S. military and its allies operate.
- Provide resources, support. educational and networking opportunities for members, fostering excellence in journalism.
For more information, visit the MRE website at https://www.militaryreporters.org.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated 5/16/24 to reflect a change in the opening date of the contest.