UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The presentation of the Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism will move to the largest media market in the United States this year, marking the start of a third decade in which the coveted national award has been administered by the Penn State College of Communications.
The Bart Richards Award honors work that evaluates news media coverage of significant subjects or issues. The award is intended to recognize constructively critical articles, books, and electronic media reports; academic and other research; and reports by media ombudsmen and journalism watchdog groups.
Penn State has administered the award since 1995, and the award’s history dates to 1979. In previous years the award was presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The award recognizing work published during the 2015 calendar year will be presented May 26, 2016, at The New York Times.
“With the start of our third decade with the award, it was a logical time to try a different location,” said Dean Marie Hardin of the College of Communications. “The ideal destination, because of the media market and because our alumni presence in the area, is New York. The event is always one of the highlights on the College of Communications calendar, and we’re excited about the energy and visibility the change will bring.”
Previous winners include a who’s who of national media critics and journalism watchdogs. Individuals and organizations from coast to coast and representing a variety of disciplines — print, radio and television — have earned the Bart Richards Award in the past 20 years. More information about the award, including a submission form for media members, may be found at comm.psu.edu/bart online.