THE AACR JUNE L. BIEDLER PRIZE FOR CANCER JOURNALISM

PRIZE SUMMARY

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in 2015 to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research. The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism has been established to showcase outstanding examples of cancer journalism, and to recognize individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories.

The AACR Biedler Prize is funded by a major bequest to the AACR from Dr. June L. Biedler, a scientist, mentor, and pioneer in cancer research, and former member of the board of directors of the AACR. In honor of Dr. Biedler’s exceptional efforts to further science and health care communications, the prize will honor and reward outstanding journalistic coverage that enhances the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy.

The prize provides an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 and a commemorative award.

WHO CAN APPLY

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism is open to print, broadcast, and online professional journalists whose stories appear in newspapers, magazines, websites, and broadcast platforms that target lay public audiences.

Prizes are intended to honor individual journalists. However, more than one journalist may be co-nominated and selected to receive a prize should the submitted piece be a result of contributions made by all involved parties.

There are no fees associated with submitted nominations.

Trade publications as well as institutions and/or organizations are ineligible to receive the prize.

CATEGORIES

Submissions will be judged and recipients selected based on the following categories:

PRINT AND ONLINE

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Online/multimedia

BROADCAST

• Television/radio/podcasts

Each submission may only be considered for one category as selected by the candidate in his or her application form.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

ELIGIBILITY

• Stories must have been published or broadcast for the first time between December 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023.
• The submission must enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy. 
• Candidacy is open to journalists targeting the lay public.
• The submission must be in English, or accurately translated into English.
• More than one individual may share the prize as co-creators, with a maximum of two representatives invited to attend the AACR Annual Meeting to accept the prize if the prize is shared.
• Institutions or organizations are not eligible for the prize.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

• December 7, 2023

PRIZE ACCEPTANCE

Awardees will be able to accept the prize during the AACR Annual Meeting 2024.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Nominations may be submitted by an individual, whether an AACR member or nonmember.
Applicants must maintain strict confidentiality of their submissions; all nominations must be submitted using AACR’s electronic award nomination platform. Paper nominations will not be accepted.

• Applicant background information and indication of prize category.
• Submission letter written in English (Max: 1,000 words), which comprehensively describes the submitted body of work and the impact of the submission on enhancing the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy.
• A brief citation (Max: 50 words) highlighting the major contributions made by the applicant and the submitted body of work to improving the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy.
• Applicant biography, résumé, or curriculum vitae.
• An electronic version (mp4, pdf, etc.) of the submitted body of work.

CONTACT INFORMATION

​Inquiries about the AACR Biedler Program Guidelines, eligibility requirements, or applications should be directed to Patrick Williams, PhD at [email protected].

JUDGING PANEL PRIZE SELECTION

• Eligible submissions will be considered by an AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism Judging Panel composed of an international cohort of individuals appointed by the AACR President.
• All judging panels will consist of experts from diverse professional backgrounds including journalists, editors, communications experts, producers, scientists, and patient advocates. The AACR’s conflict of interest policy will be enforced for membership on the judging panel and throughout the entire prize submission and review process.
• Judging panels will evaluate eligible submissions according to the following criteria:
  • Outstanding ability to educate the public about cancer, cancer research, or cancer policy;
  • Effective and accurate translation of cancer science or cancer policy;
  • Significance and timeliness of the associated subject;
  • Creativity and novelty of the reporting;
  • Clarity, precision, and elegance of language used within body of work;
  • Ability to inform the reader on the associated topic area;
  • Ability to break new ground and/or highlight the need for further attention or support of an underrepresented or misunderstood subject; and
  • Overall potential for significant impact on the understanding of cancer, cancer research, and/or cancer policy.

• After judging panel deliberations, primary and alternate prize recipient recommendations for each category (if applicable) will be relayed to the AACR Executive Committee for formal ratification.
• Selection of prize recipients shall be made on the basis of the candidate’s professional accomplishments without regard to race, gender, nationality, geographic location, or religious or political views.