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The Sidney Prize is awarded once a month for outstanding pieces of socially-conscious journalism. The prize is sponsored by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, which seeks to illuminate the great issues of our time—from the search for a basis for lasting peace to the struggle for better housing, medical care and employment security for all, the defense of civil liberties and democracy, and the battle against discrimination based on race, nationality or religion. Journalists and public figures in traditional and new media forms are eligible for the Sidney Award.

During the past decade, Sidney prizes have been awarded for works on such topics as the history of Christianity in modern times, the evolution of the concept of empire, and the rise of nationalism. The judging of the winners has been rigorous and thorough, with each work examined by scholars in the appropriate field. The finalists have been published in the Wittenberg East Asian Studies Journal, and each winner will receive $500 plus travel expenses.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, a need has arisen for writers to take up a larger role in exploring global affairs. These days, it is not enough to simply write a book or publish an article: our words must also be translated into the form of op-eds and tweets. To help ensure that these voices are heard, the Sydney Literary Festival offers several sidney prizes to writers of all ages.

Each year, a group of experts in their fields convene to decide the winners for the sidney prize. The judges take into account not only past achievement, but also the potential of an individual or group to continue their contribution to Australian society through the performing arts into the future.

In addition to the sidney prize, the Sydney Festival awards many writers with its prestigious mesmeric swirl medal, designed and handmade in Sydney by Dinosaur Designs. Each winning writer is also presented with a ticket to a screening of their film at the festival and a copy of their script.

To find out more about the sidney prize and to enter, please read the terms and conditions and apply online. Writers can win up to $20,000 for their short stories, and the Overland Neilma Sidney Prize is open to all Australian residents. However, to be considered for the prize, the writer must take out a subscription to Overland for one year at a special rate and submit a story that is themed around the notion of travel. Applicants must also agree to a no-name policy for their entries. The winner will be notified by mid-May.