The Melcher Family Award for Excellence in Journalism annually recognizes an undergraduate student at Duke University for the best journalistic piece produced in the previous year. A cash award of $500 is presented at an awards dinner held in conjunction with the Futrell Award, which honors a Duke alum in the field of media and communications.
Richard Melcher, (Duke, 74) is co-founder and principal of Melcher + Tucker Consultants, a strategic consulting firm based in Chicago. Prior to founding the firm, he was a writer and chief of the London and Chicago bureaus of Business Week. He has maintained close ties to the Sanford School and the DeWitt Wallace Center, and fondly recalls his years working on The Chronicle. This award represents his commitment to student journalism that is thoughtful, well documented and well presented.
How to apply:
- Eligibility: Any journalistic piece published by an undergraduate Duke student during the previous summer or the current academic year (May 15 to May 15).
- Submissions may be sent by e-mail to Shelley Stonecipher. Please include a link to your piece, and in the text of the email message include current contact information (phone, email, mailing address) and the title, source and date of publication.
- You may also (but are not required to) send a hard copy if you would like, to: Shelley Stonecipher, Sanford School of Public Policy, Box 90241, Room 141.
- The deadline for submissions is June 1st, although candidates are encouraged to send their pieces at any time before that date.
For questions about the award, please contact: Shelley Stonecipher.
Answers to FAQ:
Eligibility
All forms of journalistic media are eligible and encouraged, including blogs and broadcast news.
All focus areas are eligible, including Arts, Sports, OpEd, etc.
Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are all eligible.
Selection
The Melcher Awards committee is comprised of faculty members. Professor Jay Hamilton heads the committee.
Awards Event
The Melcher Award is presented at an awards dinner in the spring, together with the Futrell Award. The awards dinner includes student journalists and alumni in the fields of media and communications. The Melcher Award recipient may invite close family members to the event. If the award recipient has graduated at the time of the awards dinner, we will cover travel expenses for the award winner to return to campus.
Melcher Award Recipients
2010-2011: Lauren Carroll
Kunshan Campus Takes Shape Amid Doubts, April 6, 2011, The Chronicle.
Chronicle Alumni Portal profile
2009-2010: Rachna Reddy
Questions linger about Hellinga case, April 20, 2010, The Chronicle.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Brown and Naureen Khan, Ladies First: Does Sexism Exist at Duke?, April 2010, Towerview
2008-2009: Jessica Lichter
Making the Grade: A 3-Part Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, March 17-19, 2009, The Chronicle
2007-2008: Ben Cohen
Leveling the Playing Field: The Impact of Race on the Search for Duke’s Next Head Football Coach, December 6, 2007, The Chronicle
Honorable Mention: Rob Copeland, DUPD Plagued by Attrition: A 3-Part Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, April 15-17, 2007, The Chronicle
2006-2007: Kristin Butler
Soaking the Poor: With All Deliberate Speed, March 6, 2007, The Chronicle.
2005-2006: Jeff Stern
Family Man: The Story of Three Men Who Share a Tent by the Tracks Just Off Main Street, March 29, 2006, The Independent Weekly
Honorable Mention: Seyward Darby, Mission in Mississippi: North Carolina Medical Volunteers Bring Hope, Aid to Katrina Victims, September 13, 2005, The Chronicle
2004-2005: Andrew Gerst
Building Comunidad, May 2005, Towerview
Honorable Mention for Investigative Reporting: Jake Poses and Matt Sullivan, Steroids at Duke Reflect Larger Trend, April 17, 2005, The Chronicle
2003-2004: Emily Rotberg
Journeys in South Africa, October 6, 2003, Towerview
Honorable Mention:Emily Rotberg, N.C. Textile Towns Struggle with Massive Layoffs, November 3, 2003, The Chronicle
2002-2003: Tyler Rosen
Assessing Intellectualism, April 23, 2003, Towerview
Tyler Rosen (right), pictured with award donor Rick Melcher (left).
