Writers can receive a cash award for stories featuring the natural treasures of several Southern U.S. states.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award. The award seeks to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the South’s natural treasures by giving special recognition to writers who most effectively tell the stories about the region’s environment.
Entries must relate to the natural treasures or environmental challenges in at least one of SELC’s states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia.
Only entries published between Oct.1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025 are eligible.
Nominees can submit entries to the book or journalism category. Journalism entries may be a single article, a series on one topic, or a collection on unrelated topics.
The deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 1.