New award to honor local journalism

“Investigative and explanatory reporting that dives into complicated problems is really tough, and it can feel thankless. We created this award as a way to say ‘thank you,’ to the people who do it well.” — Carrie Peyton-Dahlberg, coordinator of the Humboldt Journalism Project

Journalists who dig into the issues that affect people’s economic lives will be eligible for an award being established by the Humboldt Journalism Project, a new DreamMaker project of The Ink People.

It’s called the “40th Award” because it will honor reporting about issues that affect people in the lower 40 percent of the income scale. Journalists in print, television, radio and online are eligible to enter deeply reported work aired or published locally in 2021.

The award offers a $1,500 first prize and up to two $500 honorable mentions.

“Investigative and explanatory reporting that dives into complicated problems is really tough, and it can feel thankless. We created this award as a way to say ‘thank you,’ to the people who do it well,” said Carrie PeytonDahlberg, coordinator of the Humboldt Journalism Project.

The Humboldt Journalism Project supports investigative and explanatory public interest reporting within Humboldt County. As the project’s donor base grows, it also hopes to provide grants for freelance reporting.

“Around the country, there are some great models for nonprofit journalism, including the Fund for Investigative Reporting,” Peyton-Dahlberg said. “We’re inspired by their approach to reporting grants.”

Peyton-Dahlberg is one of four members of the

Humboldt Journalism Project advisory panel, which is also made up of Deidre Pike, Ricardo Sandoval Palos and Zach St. George. All are unpaid volunteers.

Donations can be made through The Ink People, a nonprofit, and designated for the Humboldt Journalism Project. Go to https://www.inkpeople. org/dreammaker-data/ r13elwey9g5smiq6ostw3qt30d0azc. Those who prefer to write a check can make it out to The Ink People, with “Humboldt Journalism Project” in the memo line, and mail it to: The Ink People, 525 Seventh St., Eureka, CA 95501.

The 40th Award contest rules and a preliminary entry form can be found on the project’s DreamMaker page on the Ink People website. The page also includes more information about the Humboldt Journalism Project.