The Hillman Foundation established in 1946 to honor Sidney Hillman, president of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America labor union (an early predecessor to Unite Here and Workers United/SEIU). Every month since, this prize awards monetary awards to outstanding pieces of journalism that address key issues facing working people across America.
Sidney Prize recipients are selected by a jury based on their contribution to public interest, originality, and quality. The committee reserves the right to split or not award the prize if multiple entries share equal merit for consideration.
This year, the Hillman Foundation recognized three works that pushed investigative reporting forward: New York Times reporter Maya Srikrishnan and Ashley Clarke’s investigation of how states use outrageous fees or delays to block data gathering about low-income taxpayers’ indebtedness; Grist’s coverage of how US authorities try to silence critics; and More Perfect Union’s agenda-setting videos explicating corporate greed were honored as well as historian Julian Burnside’s book detailing American Civil Rights Movement history and a documentary covering Afghan lives by. The Hillman Prize also honored two books on history of American Civil Rights Movement as well as documentary.
George Packer’s compelling profile of Angela Merkel earned first prize for nonfiction. Packer depicts Merkel’s development from an effective, pragmatic plodder rather than romantic visionary leader. Furthermore, Packer notes her beauty: she “has a blunt straight-talking style which may appear cold and even abrupt at times”.
Annie Zhang won the 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize with her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’ This award honors undergraduate writing that meets or comes close to meeting Sidney Cox’s high standards for integrity and originality, both during teaching sessions and books published. Annie’s winning entry appeared in Overland.
The Event Cinemas Rising Talent Film Award offers an attractive cash prize of $7,000. Open to emerging NSW-based creatives working in short film with no more than five short credits to their name, this competition forms part of Sydney UNESCO City of Film’s commitment to supporting trailblazing new talent in this medium and is sponsored by Event Cinemas and the NSW Film & Television Office – discover more here.