The Sidney Prize honors undergraduate writing that best exemplifies Sir Sidney Cox’s high standards of originality and integrity as reflected in both his teaching methods and his book Indirections for Those Who Want to Write. It is open to students of any nationality majoring or not in English at the University.

The winner receives $1000 courtesy of Dymocks Books and Tutoring, as well as a Herald digital subscription and the opportunity to pitch four additional articles for publication. Runners-up will be awarded $500 and a Herald digital subscription.

Each month the Hillman Foundation gives a Sidney Prize for journalism that serves the common good, honoring winners across both America and Canada. The prize is named after a labor leader who worked to build a vibrant union movement extending beyond the factory floor and into all aspects of working people’s lives.

This prize celebrates outstanding magazine essays that have narrative drive and social impact. It is not intended to be a “best of” list, but a recognition that long-form writing still has its place in our era of zipless, byte-sized media. The first of this year’s Sidney prizes goes to David Rohde’s unforgettable series in the New York Times about being held captive by the Taliban. It embodies all the virtues of a Sidney Prize—inquiry, narrative drive, and the ability to hold readers’ attention.

In an era of cynical, partisan politics, this is a reminder of what it means to stand up for the truth. It is an act of defiance in the face of those who would deny our basic humanity, whether by blocking the work of a journalist or promoting misinformation that can be spread with lightning speed. The prize is an acknowledgment that there are few things more valuable than a truth worth fighting for.

In a time when the word “diversity” has been weaponized to justify bigotry, it is refreshing to see this prize celebrating diversity in all its forms. It is a recognition that there are many voices and experiences that we must hear in order to build a better world.