The award honors the late Frank C. Barrows, former managing editor of the Charlotte Observer, and recognizes college journalism that exemplifies the vital role of open meetings, public records and press access in public life.
In March 2020, the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and the Sunshine Center will present the inaugural Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Student Journalism.
The award recognizes the accomplishments of a collegiate journalist at a North Carolina university whose work exemplifies the vital role of open meetings, public records and press access in public life.
The award honors the memory of Frank C. Barrows, former managing editor of the Charlotte Observer and one of the founding members of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition. Barrows’ work changed the lives of North Carolinians for the better. To quote those who knew him best, “He championed the vital role newspapers play in our democracy: to connect people to their community and offer accurate and reliable information, and to do those things in a fair-minded and thoughtful way with craftsmanship so high it becomes art.” The award includes a cash prize, made possible by Mary Newsom, his surviving spouse, and generous donations to the Sunshine Center.
Required Materials:
Project narrative – A description of the project (no more than 500 words) explaining how the project tells a meaningful story about a matter of public significance to North Carolina residents using public records or provisions under the N.C. Open Meetings Law. To be eligible, the work must have been published during the preceding calendar year. Entries will be accepted from both individuals and teams.
Project sample – A PDF copy of the project submitted for consideration. If the project is a multi-media work, such as a podcast or web series, please include a working link in the application materials. For serial or multi-part stories, please limit attachments to the two most significant examples of the work.
Letter of recommendation (no more than two pages) from a faculty advisor or faculty mentor explaining the work’s importance.
Deadline: February 15, 2020
Please send the required materials to ncopengov@elon.edu with a subject line that includes “Frank Barrows Award 2020” and the applicant’s name. Please include the applicant’s name on all files and correspondence.
For more information, email Brooks Fuller, the executive director of the NC Open Government Coalition, at bfuller7@elon.edu or call 336-278-5506 during regular business hours.