The Sydney Prize is awarded each month for outstanding journalism that exposes social injustice. Anyone may nominate an article or essay for consideration, and the winner will be announced on the second Wednesday of each month. The prize is sponsored by the Hillman Foundation, a left-of-center organization that awards monetary prizes for journalism in service of the common good. The Foundation is named after Sidney Hillman, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America union (a predecessor to Unite Here and Worker’s United, SEIU). The Hillman Foundation is active in activism and advocacy on behalf of its grantees. Its board of trustees includes Workers United president emeritus Bruce Raynor and actor Danny Glover.
Dr Clare Jackson, who studied history as an undergraduate at Sidney and returned to study for a PhD on royalist ideas in late-seventeenth century Scotland, has won one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for historical writing. Her book, ‘A Kingdom for a Lady’, will be published by Penguin. The prize was judged by a panel of leading historians and will be presented at a ceremony in London later this year.
The 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize has been awarded to Annie Zhang for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’, about a family learning to live with ghosts in their new home. The winning entry was selected from a shortlist of eight that was announced earlier this month. The winner and two runners-up will be published in Overland magazine’s autumn 2024 issue. The winner receives $5000, and the runners-up each receive $2750.
In order to perpetuate in some small way the generative influence that Sidney Cox exerted on hundreds of Dartmouth students both inside and outside of his classes, a group of his friends has been soliciting funds with a view to establishing an annual award for the undergraduate writing which most nearly meets those high standards of originality and integrity that he established both for himself and for his students.
The Sydney Peace Prize, sponsored by the Sydney City Council, recognises the importance of promoting peace with justice and respect for human rights. This year’s winners are the Black Lives Matter movement, led by US activists Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, who won for their campaign against police brutality and the death of teenager Trayvon Martin. They are a reminder that nonviolent campaigns can have major impact. The award will be presented at a special event at City Hall in November. The prize carries a cash prize of $10,000 and an engraved medallion. The winner and a guest will also have the opportunity to present a public lecture in Sydney. The Sydney Peace Foundation also promotes the work of other organisations and individuals through a range of activities and media events. The Foundation’s work aims to educate people about peace and the importance of nonviolence in their lives. It also works to build bridges between people of different cultures and faiths.
