Miss. Then, as now, the award recognized good opinion writing in the non-daily field. There are usually as many as 300 entries. Entries must have been published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of the preceding year. Two is the maximum number of entries permitted from each individual. Please use glue our mounting material that does not bleed through newsprint.
Judges are veteran editorial writers serving on daily or weekly papers or in academic positions.
The award is presented not for a single brave accomplishment, however deserving, but for a career of outstanding public service through community journalism and for adhering to the highest standards of the craft with the deep reverence for the English language that was the hallmark of Eugene Cervi's writing. The award also recognizes consistently aggressive reporting of government at the grassroots level and interpretation of local affairs. Cervi Award Nominations should begin with a letter of recommendation, which should include the writer's reasons for making the nomination. The nomination should also have other letters about the nominee, clippings demonstrating the criteria for the award and a biographical data sheet giving basic facts about the nominee's career. Nominations are open only to editors of newspapers of less than daily frequency.