Review this page thoroughly before starting your submission. If you have more specific questions about rules and eligibility, please contact Elisa DiBenedetto at the IARJ.

Prize

The third edition will award three journalists with prizes of € 2,000, € 500 and € 250 and a certificate, all funded by the IARJ.

Eligibility

The Piazza Grande Religion Journalism Award honours the work of journalists covering religion and spirituality in newspapers, magazines, news websites or news wires that publish regularly in Europe and the countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin.

The IARJ runs this award program, presented together with Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose Giovanni XXIII (FSCIRE) in the framework of the EuARe.

Applicants must be based in any of the countries of the designated area, and have had their pieces published in mainstream media or in confessional media with standard journalistic practices in countries of the designated area.

Publication Date

The competition will accept works that were published between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2023. Applicants must have had their pieces published in mainstream media or in confessional media following traditional journalistic standards.

Word Limits

We accept pieces of a minimum of 1,000 words (6,000 characters) and a maximum of 3,000 words (18,000 characters).

Language

Pieces can be in every official language of the countries of the designated area, provided the submission includes a faithful translation into English.

Submitting Entries

Submissions are now open. Entries must be submitted using the form below by April 15, 2024 at 11:00 am GMT.

Multiple Entries

Each applicant can submit up to three entries. We accept stories co-authored by up to three people. The authors can win together and split the prize.

Winners

An international jury of prominent journalists will select the winner, who will be announced in the framework of the annual conference of the European Academy of Religion-EuARe in Palermo, Italy, on 20-23 May 2024.

Not Eligible

  • columns intended as news analysis, editorials or opinion pieces are not eligible;
  • works produced solely by advocacy religious groups that reflect their own agenda of topics or for purposes of proselytization;
  • books chapters and books excerpts;
  • reports produced and aired by broadcast media (radio and TV) and later posted as text on their websites.

FAQs—Frequently Asked Questions

I am a journalist based in the designated area and my story deals with issues in those countries, but it was published by media outlets based in a country outside the designated area. Does my story meet the eligibility requirements?

No, it doesn’t. See the eligibility requirements above.

I am a journalist based in the designated area and my story was published in the regional edition of a global publication based in a different country, but serving the designated area. Does my story meet the eligibility requirements

Yes, it does.

Do I have to be a religion beat reporter to submit an entry?

No, any journalist may enter provided the story meets the eligibility requirements. We are aware that in many countries not all media outlets have a reporter covering religion exclusively.

Do I have to be a member of the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ) or of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe) to qualify for the award?

No, the contest is open to all journalists based in the countries of the designated area. Nevertheless, we welcome you to visit the IARJ and the EuARe websites to apply for membership should you meet the requirements.

Do I have to hold a passport of a European country or of a country of the Mediterranean basin to be eligible?

No, applicants can be of every nationality in the world. The requisites are to be based in any of the countries of the designated area, and to have had their pieces published in media based in any of those countries.

Are bloggers eligible?

Yes, as long as their blog is located in a media outlet that qualifies for the award, and that the story meets the standard journalistic practices required.

Are stories produced by journalists working for wire services eligible?

Yes. The wire service must be from a country of the designated area, and the author of the story must be based in a country of the designated area.

I have produced a story that includes video and audio, and it has been published on the website of a newspaper or on a news website. Is it eligible?

Yes, as long as video and audio are complementary elements and not the main component of the work. The judges will be looking at the quality of the text. If needed, the jury will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Is there an entry fee?

No, there is no entry fee.

If I win, do I have to travel to Italy to pick up the award?

No, it is not necessary. You are welcome to attend the conference, but the organization will not cover the travel and accommodation costs.