Qualifications

     A nominee for the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame must be 55 years or older; the person must have made significant contributions to journalism through reporting, editing, photography, design, or education; or led innovative changes within a news organization, or advocated for the First Amendment. The onus is on the nominator to spell out in a written nomination (see the nomination form below) why a person meets these criteria and should be in the Hall of Fame. There will be a maximum of three inductees each year to be selected by a Hall of Fame committee of members in good standing in the Rhode Island Press Association. (The committee also will consider historic nominees who have been dead for 50 years.

     To nominate a candidate, you must provide a 200-300 word biography of the candidate explaining why he/she meets the above criteria. Include any applicable supporting materials, such as story clips. If several individuals from a news organization want to nominate a candidate, they need only send one nomination form. If the candidate is selected, the committee will require a more complete biography and a photo. This material is used to produce the Hall of Fame plaque.

     The nominee will be placed on a list of potential inductees for at least one year before he/she becomes eligible to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame. The name may remain on this list for no longer than six years. If he/she is not selected for inclusion, the committee could choose to drop them from the list. Or the committee could vote to keep them on the list for an additional four years. Anyone who is a member of the press association is eligible to submit a nomination. (If the newspaper is a paid member, its news employees are members.)