Guidelines, Selection, and Committees

Eligibility

Information for 2024 Award Submissions:

Only full-length books written or translated into English, by an author or authors whose primary profession is print, broadcast, or electronic journalism are eligible. Among the factors that will be considered in determining the winner will be the significance of the subject, the book's influence on public opinion or policy, and the quality of the reporting and writing. Works of fiction, anthologies, biography, memoir, history, collections of columns or articles are not eligible. Books must be scheduled for original publication between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Nominations

Submission guidelines for the 2024 award have changed.

Please submit the nomination form electronically: 
2024 Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism Nomination Form 

We will not be accepting any nomination forms via email or mail. 

The deadline for nominations and the submission of the form is SEPTEMBER 1st, 2023. 
 
This year, we are requiring the submission of eleven (11) print copies of the book and a controlled PDF of the book. 
 
Please submit the print copy of the book to:
The New York Public Library
Helen Bernstein Book Award for Journalism
476 Fifth Ave. SC3-05
New York, NY 10018-2788
Attn. Ian Fowler

Please submit the PDF copy of the book to bernsteinawards@nypl.org

Please contact bernsteinawards@nypl.org with any questions.
 

2023 Selection Committee

  • Calvin Sims (Chair) - Executive Vice President for News Standards and Practices at CNN
  • Brooke Kroeger - Professor, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University
  • Geneva Overholser - Journalism Consultant and Advisor 
  • Paula Span - New Old Age, New York Times, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
  • Robert S. Boynton - Director of Literary Reportage, Professor, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University

2023 Library Review Committee

The five finalists are chosen by a Library Review Committee, consisting of staff from across NYPL. 

  • Ian Fowler (Chair) - Curator of Maps and Geospatial Librarian, SASB
  • Zoe Waldron - Metadata Specialist, Metadata Services Unit. Digital Research
  • Makoroba Sow - Librarian II, Local History, United States History, and Genealogy, SASB
  • Ben Sapadin  - Supervising Librarian, SNFL
  • Miguel Rosales, Librarian II, Art & Architecture Collection, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, SASB
  • Maura Muller - Associate Director, Volunteer Program
  • Tara Fedoriw-Morris - Digital Production Manager, Communications and Marketing
  • Whitney Lee - Helen Bernstein Librarian for Periodicals and E-Resources, SASB
  • Emma Davidson - Librarian II, The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, SASB
  • Margie Cook - Associate Manager Public Programs, SASB
  • Sarah Ball - Managing Librarian, Jail and Prison Services