Since 1950, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has sought out journalists and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy for the greater good. Through its award program, it has honored contributors to daily and periodical press, radio, television, authors/writers in traditional/new media forms including Hilton Als of The New York Times and Ed Yong of The Atlantic amongst numerous heavyweight columnists/essayists from top national publications.
Dr Clare Jackson, an ex-Sidney student and Junior Research Fellow, was awarded the 2024 Irving Oberman Memorial Prize (Harvard University Press) for her book Royalalist Ideas in Late Seventeenth Century Scotland (which won first prize). This prize is considered amongst one of the highest accolades in historical writing.
The Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, is open to Australian writers aged 18 or over and provides an opportunity for excellence in short fiction of up to 3000 words focused loosely around travel themes. Entries will be judged by three literary and cultural experts from Australia’s literary scene and one winner will receive $5000 while two runners-up stories will have been published in Overland magazine.
See our Official Competition Jury page for a complete list of past winners, their films and creators. All Sydney Film Festival Awards winners receive a one-of-a-kind mesmeric swirl award designed and hand-made by local artist Louise Olsen of Dinosaur Designs.
Since 1973, Isabel B. Oberman’s bequest has enabled this annual prize to recognize and reward HLS student papers that excel on one or more of seven current legal subjects: Bankruptcy; Constitutional Law and Equal Justice Under the Law; Family Law; Environmental Law; Intellectual Property Rights and Law and Society. For consideration for the prize, papers must have been published within one year of submission and must meet certain publication criteria to qualify.
Winners are chosen by an esteemed jury of scholars, writers and artists; this gives students an invaluable chance to show off their work while potentially winning cash prizes. Winners also have the option of presenting it at a public event.
At first, the foundation made grants worth thousands of dollars to colleges for scholarships, lecture series and research; starting in the mid 1990s however, its focus shifted more toward protecting and celebrating long-form journalism.
Hillman Prizes was the inaugural program of this kind and since has expanded into areas including social justice, photography, advocacy for arts organizations and other key aspects of its mission. These programs have become an essential component of the Hillman Foundation’s work and help ensure its enduring principles remain at the center of American life. Furthermore, the Hillman Foundation promotes investigative reporting and deep storytelling for the common good; furthermore it illuminates critical issues like sustainable peacemaking efforts; housing/healthcare accessibility for all people and maintaining civil liberties/democracy protection.