We’re excited to announce the July and August Media Award Winners (and promise to announce the September and October Award Winners next week):

July:  “Mainstream Media Tend to Ignore Blacks’ Mental Health Problems,” MCJ Staff, Milwaukee Community Journal

In his brief explanation of the piece, TSP Editor Doug Hartmann noted how this sociologically-minded article called attention to a timely and oft-ignored social issue. 

August: “Divorce Too Expensive for Poorest Americans, New Study Says,” Catherine New, Huffington Post

In her write-up of the piece, TSP’s Letta Page explained how New drew upon sociological research to highlight how divorce is, in a sense, a luxury item.

As we’ve said before, the choice of each month’s TSP Media Award is neither scientific nor exhaustive, but we do work hard to winnow our favorite nominees.  And, while we don’t have the deep pocketbooks to offer enormous trophies or cash prizes, we hope our informal award offers cheer and encouragement for journalists and social scientists to keep up the important (if not always rewarding) work of bringing academic knowledge to the broader public.