Students residing in Australia now have a new essay competition to get their writing out there and published. The winning entry will receive a $1,000 cash prize as well as spending time in Sydney Morning Herald newsroom; subscribers to magazine will also get an added discount when entering.
David Brooks selected “Vindictive Protectiveness,” by Kathryn Schultz and Jeremy Pressman of The New York Times as his 2023 Sidney Award recipient, recognizing its “discernment of a significant story, resourcefulness in reporting, skill in communicating the tale and impact.”
As another example, journalist Maya Srikrishnan’s story on the rise of low-income taxpayers who owe state income taxes was completed over an extensive time frame. Her team persisted with their mission despite states delaying data requests or charging exorbitant fees for accessing information; finally revealing an all too familiar tale of inequality.
Since 2004, David Brooks of the New York Times columnist David Brooks has selected Sidney winners annually as part of a celebration of long-form essays in politics and culture. For 2023, Brooks selected an essay that takes an insightful look at student hypersensitivity and its effect on young people who feel unprepared to face life’s challenges; its authors coin a term called vindictive protectiveness to characterize this mind-set that leads to depression while stopping them from contributing productively towards society.
Writers have long served as the conscience of society, and The Sydney Prize provides new voices in discussing today’s most urgent topics. We hope to see your work featured at future editions and hope you join us!
If you’re interested in entering our next year’s competition, please find more information here. Additionally, join our community of writers by logging in or creating an account – you’ll be able to save articles for later reading as well as share them with friends and family. For the chance of being considered, either a Sydney Morning Herald digital subscription or Sydney University digital subscription must exist for submission of an essay; contest will run between 1 October-20 December 2024 with rules and guidelines available here.