Current Winners
Congratulations to our winners! Our judges worked hard to select from the abundance of great submissions.
ASJA relishes in the opportunity to recognize these fine works and their authors. Our annual awards program highlights stellar nonfiction articles, essays, books, and content marketing writing in a variety of categories. Check out last year’s winners here.
While some awards are offered only to members, others are open to all freelance writers, regardless of membership. Nominations may be made by the authors themselves or by someone else. All entries must be published by a freelance, nonfiction writer in the calendar year preceding the award year.
ASJA’s award season is generally held each winter and spring. Nominations usually open in January and close in February. Judges consider entries through early spring, and the announcement of winners often coincides with ASJA’s annual conference in mid-spring.
In an effort to encourage and acknowledge the work of incarcerated journalists, entry fees are being waived for their work for the 2022 awards.
ASJA member Howard Eisenberg established the Arlene Eisenberg Memorial Fund to honor his late wife, the author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and other bestselling books that made a difference in the lives of mothers worldwide. Income generated by the fund allows ASJA to give monetary awards to winners of Arlenes, which are awarded annually for articles and once every three years for books. The winning book or freelance article must have “made a difference” by inspiring positive action within a locale or community, society, or the world. In the past, the award has been given for articles or books that inspired readers to do such things as lobby for legislation or form an advocacy group. Past winners have also stirred officials to launch an investigation, correct an injustice, or remove a hazard.
The Arlene Article Award is presented annually for an article published within the prior two years. For 2021, eligible articles must have been published in 2020 or 2021.
To be considered for an Arlene, articles must be:
This award honors ASJA’s third president, a noted investigative journalist. Articles entered should demonstrate outstanding writing and organization, plus new or previously unrevealed research. Or, if the topic frequently gets attention, the article should show it in a new light.
The work of any writer may be nominated, so long as it is freelance-written and published or released in the United States during the eligibility period. (Staff-written work does not qualify.)
If the work was supported by a grant or payment from a foundation or other organization, or if the author was otherwise aided (such as in data collection or statistical analysis), we ask that this be noted at the time of submission, along with the time period for any such support. This is solely for the purpose of establishing that the work was freelance-written.
These awards honor writers whose articles, produced on a freelance basis, have demonstrated excellence in writing, research, and clarity of presentation.
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These awards are for nonfiction books written by independent (not staff) writers that are deemed significant, exceptionally well-researched, and skillfully written.Books must have published in the United States during calendar year 2021. Entries may be written by an individual author or may be collaborative works. Self-published books, eBooks, and traditionally published books may be nominated.
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Please note: Only PDF or eBook submissions will be accepted.
These awards honor writers whose articles, produced on a freelance basis for an organization — a brand, business, nonprofit, hospital, university, or association — have demonstrated excellence in writing, research, and clarity of presentation.
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The June Roth Memorial Fund was established by her late husband to honor our 31st president, a well-known medical writer. Income generated by the fund provides monetary awards to ASJA members whose articles or books represent exceptional achievement in health and medical writing. The June Roth Article and Book Awards are offered every year.
From time to time, an ASJA member offers exemplary service to the organization, reaches a notable career achievement, or demonstrates special contributions to the media industry. In these moments, ASJA members and leaders can nominate such members for the special awards listed below.
From time to time, ASJA members go above and beyond to serve members and other professional freelance writers.
Congratulations to our winners! Our judges worked hard to select from the abundance of great submissions.
When big news hits — like the Covid Pandemic — journalists move into high gear. Periodically, ASJA offers special awards programs to recognize this important work.
Our annual awards program highlights stellar nonfiction articles, essays, books, and content marketing writing in a variety of categories.
All articles and books considered for an award must have been published in the preceding year, unless otherwise noted.