2027 Reed Environmental Writing Award United States of America (USA) Nominations Open

The 2027 Reed Environmental Writing Award recognizes writers who demonstrate exceptional literary quality while offering meaningful insight into the natural landscapes, environmental issues, and challenges of the American South. Presented annually, the award honors outstanding writing on the Southern environment across two main categories: Book and Journalism.

The Book category honors nonfiction works that are not self-published. The Journalism category recognizes newspaper, magazine, and online writing published by a recognized institution, such as a news organization, university, or nonprofit group. Entries in journalism may consist of a single article, a series covering one topic, or a collection of articles on unrelated topics, provided each piece addresses environmental issues in eligible Southern states and the overall submission meets the 1,000-word minimum.

Primary judging criteria include writing quality, central connection to the South’s environment, originality, and the presentation of pressing environmental issues. Cash prizes are awarded to the winner in each category. Additionally, winners will be announced in January 2027 and invited to celebrate and read from their winning work at a special Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) event during the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 18, 2027.