Nominations for Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage in rural journalism due Tuesday, Sept. 6

The deadline is looming for nominations for the annual Tom and Pat Gish Award that recognizes courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism. Nominations should be sent to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues by Tuesday, Sept. 6. (The deadline was Sept. 1 but has been extended to give you one more weekend.)

The award is named for the couple, above, who published The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Ky., for almost 52 years. Last year’s winner was Samantha Swindler of the Tillamook Headlight-Herald in Oregon for her investigative reporting at The Times-Tribune in Corbin, Ky., and the Jacksonville Daily Progress in Texas. Earlier winners have been the Gishes; the Ezzell family, publishers of The Canadian Record in Texas; and former publisher Stanley Dearman and Publisher Jim Prince of The Neshoba Democrat of Philadelphia, Miss. For more details see http://www.ruraljournalism.org/.

The Institute seeks nominations that measure up, at least in major respects, to the records of previous winners. Nominators should send detailed letters explaining how their nominees show the kind of exemplary courage, tenacity and integrity that the Gishes and other winners demonstrated in their rigorous pursuit of rural journalism. Documentation does not have to accompany the nomination, but will be needed in choosing finalists or a winner, and additional documentation may be requested or required. Nomination letters should be postmarked or emailed by Sept. 6 and sent to: Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, 122 Grehan Journalism Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506-0042. For more information, contact Al Cross at 859-257-3744 or Al.Cross@uky.edu.