CASW established the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting in 2000. The prize, given annually, honors a writer for a body of work published or broadcast within the last five years which, for reasons of uncommon clarity, accuracy, breadth of coverage, enterprise, originality, insight and narrative power has made a profound and lasting contribution to public awareness and understanding of critical advances in medical science and their impact on human health and well being.
Work appearing in digital media is eligible. If an entry includes work that cannot be submitted but must be viewed online, the nominee should arrange access for the judges and explain the arrangement in the submission form.
Editors, colleagues, scientists and others familiar with the candidate's body of work may proffer nominations. Individuals may nominate themselves, but are encouraged to send at least one letter of support from a knowledgeable colleague. Nominators may submit up to five examples of the candidate's journalistic endeavors, all published or aired since January 2019. Books are not eligible. Letters of nomination should include an assessment of the nominee's body of work  along with a biographical sketch.
Deadline for nominations: June 30.
An account is required to submit. After you click "Create Account and Continue," you will be able to access the submission form.
For further information about the prize, see this page.
If you are a nominator or supporter wishing to submit only a letter in support of a candidate, use the Letter of Support submission form.
If you have been nominated in a previous year and would like to update your nomination materials, you may use this form to do so. In place of the nomination letter, simply enter text explaining that you are submitting an update.
NOTICE: In July 2016 CASW launched Showcase, an online collection of award-winning science writing. We expect the winner of the Victor Cohn Prize to allow us to include a sample of the winning work in this database or to assist us in securing the necessary permission to do so. See the "terms and conditions" section of the form for details.
Questions about the nomination process? Contact Laura Dattaro.