The American Penal Press Contest
American Penal Press Contest
Welcome to the American Penal Press Contest! Originally launched by Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIU) in 1965, the contest was revived by SIU and Pollen Initiative in 2025!
The contest aims to bolster the prison press by shining a light on its strength, providing professional feedback, encouraging healthy competition between publications, and building common ground between the prison press and the outside journalism industry.
Please stay tuned as we update the guidelines and categories for the coming year. Updated information about categories and submission guidelines will be available by Jan. 16, 2026.
Submissions for the 2026 contest will be accepted from April 1 to May 31, 2026.
Winners will be announced at the second annual American Penal Press Contest ceremony on Sept. 18, 2026, held at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
Email us at americanpenalpresscontest@polleninitiative.org.
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