Nominations are being accepted for the Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism, given by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues.
Detailed nomination letters must be mailed by Aug. 1.
The award is named for Tom and Pat Gish, who published The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Ky., for more than 51 years. They withstood advertiser boycotts, business competition, declining population, personal attacks and even the burning of their office to give their readers the kind of journalism often lacking in rural areas. They were the first winners of the award named for them.
The institute seeks nominations that measure up, at least in major respects, to the records of previous winners, which are detailed at www.RuralJournalism.org.
Nominators should send detailed letters to Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism, explaining how nominees show the kind of exemplary pursuit of rural journalism that the Gishes demonstrated.
Detailed documentation does not have to accompany the nomination but is helpful in choosing finalists, and additional documentation may be required.
The award will be presented at a dinner in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 13.
Letters should be postmarked by Aug. 1 and mailed to Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, 122 Grehan Journalism Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506-0042.
Direct questions to Cross at (859) 257-3744 or al.cross@uky.edu.
