The Institute for Jewish & Community Research and the Student Free Press Association have launched the Gary A. Tobin Awards: Excellence in Student Reporting on Anti-Semitism. This first in a series of awards recognizes exemplary student reporting on anti-Semitism and related prejudices in education. Many American educational institutions have become safe havens for the promotion of propaganda and activity that features some of the most harmful aspects of anti-Semitism. The Tobin Award’s goal is to stimulate interest and activity in writing that restores rational and civil dialogue on campus through exposure and analysis of the problem. Works produced by students are some of the most influential in setting the tone of campus discourse.

The categories are:

• Print Journalism: Newspapers, magazines, and other traditional media. Mainstream and

student outlets of any circulation size are considered. Prize amount: $1,000

• New Media: Web sites, blogs, podcasts, and other online multimedia. Prize amount: $1,000

Writing by incoming or current students in undergraduate or graduate programs in higher education will be considered. Competition is open to student writing published during the 2010/2011 academic school year and submitted by the deadline of April 11, 2011. There is no entry fee.

Work will be evaluated for originality, depth, analysis, content, accuracy, and style by a panel of judges that includes veteran journalists and civil rights experts. Award winners will be announced by April 25, 2011.

University faculty are requested to communicate the details of the program to their students and encourage them to submit their work.

For more information visit: Gary A. Tobin Awards: Excellence in Student Reporting on Anti-Semitism, email awards@jewishresearch.org or call 415.386.2604.

Kenneth L. Marcus is Executive Vice President of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research and serves on the SPME Board of Directors. Dennis Ybarra is a research associate at IJCR.