Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (administered since 1968; awards established by Jessie Ball duPont) · 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 (Columbia Journalism School)
AG Process Grade
Grade A See the Award rubric →The duPont-Columbia Awards, run by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism since 1968 and established in 1942, publish an 8-member external jury of journalism academics and former network news executives, disclose merit criteria, and describe a documented two-tier screeners-then-jury process (the FAQ notes the jury 'does not use a formal judging rubric'). The organizer discloses that hundreds of paid entries ($150-$300 per category) are submitted annually and only about a dozen are honored, an observable selectivity rate well under 10%. Winners are published and widely reported, the organization is a verifiable long-running university program with a physical address and named staff/jury, and funding (the Jessie Ball duPont Fund) is disclosed. Gala/ceremony and logo/licensing costs are not disclosed and were removed from the fee-transparency max; no documented failures or controversies were found.
Founded 1942 · Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (administered since 1968; awards established by Jessie Ball duPont) · HQ 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 (Columbia Journalism School) · Media, Film & Digital Content · Entry Paid
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, established in 1942 and administered by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism since 1968, honor excellence in broadcast, audio, documentary and digital journalism; each year a board of screeners vets hundreds of paid entries and an external jury of journalism academics and practitioners selects roughly a dozen winners, who receive a silver or gold Louis Kahn-designed baton.
Profile data
| Organizer | Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (administered since 1968; awards established by Jessie Ball duPont) |
| Location | 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 (Columbia Journalism School) |
| Entry fee | $150-$300 |
| Cost to receive award | None |
| Winner rate | 10% (~1-6%) |
| Selection authority | Mixed |
| Data confidence | ● Fully documented |
| Official site | https://dupont.org/about(nofollow) |
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Industry Alternatives
Other awards in the same industry (Media, Film & Digital Content), graded A or B -- real judging, disclosed criteria, and genuine selectivity.