Guidelines, Selection, and Committees

Eligibility

Information for 2025 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, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

Nominations

Please submit the nomination form electronically: 
2025 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 1, 2024. 

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.
 

2024 Selection Committee

  • Calvin Sims (Chair), Executive Vice President for News Standards and Practices, CNN
  • Geneva Overholser, The New York Times, Washington Post, Des Moines Register (retired)
  • Robert S. Boynton, Professor, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University
  • Nina Bernstein, investigative journalist, formerly with The New York Times
  • Krithika Varagur, author and editor, The Drift
  • Christine Harper, Bloomberg Editorial Board member

2024 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, History, and Government Information
  • Sarah Ball, Managing Librarian, Jail and Prison Services
  • Emily Brooks, Curriculum Writer, Center for Educators and Schools
  • Margie Cook, Associate Manager Public Programs
  • Emma Davidson, Librarian II, The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
  • Tara Fedoriw-Morris, Senior Digital Production Manager, Communications and Marketing
  • Miriam Gianni, Librarian II, General Humanities Reference
  • Leah Johanson, Specialist II, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books
  • Whitney Lee, Helen Bernstein Librarian for Periodicals and E-Resources
  • Maura Muller, Associate Director, Volunteer Program
  • Ben Sapadin, Supervising Librarian, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)