Who can enter?
Any Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada is welcome to enter.
Previous winners of the Dalton Camp Award are ineligible. However, previous winners of the Dalton Camp Student Prize can submit.
Members of the Friends of Canadian Media Board of Directors, its employees, retained consultants, and members of the jury, as well as their immediate family members, are ineligible.
What can you submit?
Original, English-language essays on the link between media and democracy, up to 2,000 words.
New for 2025: Both previously published and unpublished essays may be submitted. See the rules and regulations for complete details.
What can you win?
The winning essay will receive a prize of CDN$10,000.00.
Who is judging the prize?
Submissions to the Dalton Camp Award are read by a small volunteer jury comprised of journalists, academics, broadcasters, and other professionals working in Canadian media. Neither employees of Friends of Canadian Media nor its board of directors are members of the jury.
The judging process is blind – your name will not be known to the jurors until a final decision is made.
What happened to the Student Prize?
To better support the next generation of Canadian journalists, Friends of Canadian Media will be introducing a new Student Scholarship in 2025. Details are coming soon. Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear this announcement.
What do you mean by “the link between media and democracy”?
At Friends of Canadian Media, we envision a culturally sovereign Canada, protected, and enhanced by a media ecosystem that nurtures and promotes Canadian values and diverse storytelling, and believe a thriving journalism sector underpins a strong civil society and a fully functioning democracy. With the Dalton Camp Award, we invite writings that explore these vital topics.
See a list of previous winners and read their winning essays here.
Is there an entrance fee?
No.
What if I miss the deadline? Can I still enter?
Submissions close at 8pm Eastern Standard Time on Monday, January 6, 2025. Submissions will not be considered after that time.
What if I need help?
Report any technical problems with your submission to dca@friends.ca and we will be pleased to assist you.
Unfortunately, we cannot enter into any communication about the subject or your essay, or questions related to eligibility. You can see the complete rules and regulations here.