Entries are limited to work published or broadcast in the preceeding calendar year.
Competition is open to professional journalists - those who receive at least 50 percent of their income from journalistic activity, either independently or as an employee of independent communications media. Only pieces published or broadcast by such independent media are eligible. Online entries are eligible, if work is done by a professional journalist who meets the above definition. House organs, pamphlets, theses, reports or publications of special interest groups such as trade associations, consumer organizations or government agencies will not be considered. In all cases, judges will look especially for examples of individual enterprise.