Open call for James Beard Media Awards

On October 4th, the Media Awards (Book, Broadcast Media, and Journalism) announced its Open Call for Entries. Each entry requires an entry fee of $75. At any time during the entire call for entry, Media Awards entrants who state a financial need may have the fee waived.

This year there are some additional categories available in Book Awards:

• The Writing category is now Literary Writing and includes narrative nonfiction books, including memoirs, culinary tourism, investigative journalism, food advocacy, and critical analysis of food and foodways for a general audience. Includes memoir, biography, personal essays, culinary travel, and culture—no more than 20 percent recipes.
• A Food Issues and Advocacy category has been added and includes investigative journalism, food policy, deep dives, and critical analysis of the changing social landscape.
• Baking and Desserts has been redefined as books with recipes focused on the art and craft of baking, pastries, and desserts, both sweet and savory items, including ingredients, techniques, equipment, and traditions.
• A Bread category has been added to include books with recipes focused on the art and craft of making bread, including ingredients, techniques, equipment, and traditions. (As a member of the Book Awards Committee, I’m thrilled to state that adding a bread category was my idea.)

For more updates on other categories (restaurants/journalism etc) please see the press release.

Deadlines:
• The deadline for submitting entries (Media Awards) and recommendations (Restaurant and Chef Awards and Leadership Awards) is Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 11:59 P.M. ET.
• Physical book copies must arrive at the warehouse for review by Tuesday, December 6, 2022. There will also be a Dropbox link to upload final pdfs for each entry.

Submitting a recommendation for the Leadership or Restaurant and Chef Awards is free. For more information please see the JB Awards page.

It is important to mention that each entry must contain an alignment statement. As part of the Call for Entry and Recommendations process, all entrants (and those making recommendations) are required to provide a short write-up or audio/visual recording reflecting on the James Beard Awards Mission and the James Beard Foundation’s Values, and how the entrant expresses them in their work. It is also an opportunity for candidates (or those making recommendations) to tell their story and purpose. Detailed instructions are offered in the Open Call for Entry/Recommendations online forms. Please visit the policy page where you will find links to Eligibility documents for each program.