National Defense magazine columnist wins 2024 MRE Journalism Contest

Sean Carberry from National Defense, author of Budget Matters column, awarded commentary prize by Military Reporters & Editors


WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — During its annual conference for journalists who cover the military, Military Reporters & Editors presented awards to the winners of the 2024 MRE Journalism Contest. Sean Carberry’s entry published by National Defense magazine was singled out by judges as exceptional work in commentary journalism.

Sean Carberry Biography

Sean Carberry awarded 2024 MRE Journalism Contest commentary prize

Sean Carberry is a Peabody and Lowell Thomas award-winning journalist and author of “Passport Stamps: Searching the World for a War to Call Home. He’s currently managing editor of National Defense Magazine. In his two decades as a radio and print journalist, he has traveled to dozens of countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. He was NPR’s last Kabul-based correspondent in 2012 through 2014. After that, he spent several years working for the Defense Department Office of Inspector General, writing and editing oversight reports on counterterrorism operations, before returning to journalism. He has a B.A. from Lehigh University and an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his cat Squeak who he rescued from the streets of Kabul.

Award Summary

Columns, Opinion, Print Media

Prize Category: Best Commentary, Print Media — The Commentary award is designated for a columnist writing on a regular basis who demonstrates flair, deep understanding of the topics presented and the fundamentals of fair and accurate reporting in print media focusing on the military, military affairs, troops and veterans or their families, or national security, defense or war.

Read the winning submissions

March 6, 2023 | National Defense Magazine

Budget Matters: The Challenge of Predicting Future Defense Spending

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/3/6/budget-matters-the-challenge-of-predicting-future-defense-spending

May 16, 2023 | National Defense Magazine

Budget Matters: Debt Ceiling Fight Puts Defense Budget in Limbo

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/5/16/budget-matters-debt-ceiling-fight-puts-defense-budget-in-limbo

Oct. 2, 2023 | National Defense Magazine

Budget Matters: Seeking the Goldilocks Formula for Defense Spending

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/10/2/budget-matters-seeking-the-goldilocks-formula-for-defense-spending

Nov. 2, 2023 | National Defense Magazine

Budget Matters: Russia, China Boosting Defense Spending as Congress Dithers

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/11/2/russia-china-boosting-defense-spending-as-congress-dithers

Dec. 18, 2023 | National Defense Magazine

Budget Matters: Why Ukraine Assistance Is U.S. Assistance

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/12/18/budget-matters-why-ukraine-assistance-is-us-assistance