Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health Reporting

Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health Reporting

Funder: The Luv U Project in memory of Carolyn C Mattingly Inc

Website: theluvuproject.org

Award Amount: $10,000

Purpose: Recognizes exemplary journalism that illuminates and advances the understanding of mental health issues and treatments. The award aims to bring mental health to the forefront of news media and elevate discussion on this important social issue.

Background

Established in 2016, this top-tier national award is presented in partnership with the National Press Foundation (NPF). The NPF administers the entire selection process and recruits a panel of judges.

Eligibility

• Open to any U.S.-based journalist at a U.S.-based news organization
• Includes: print journalists, broadcast journalists, and online journalists
• Work must be published or broadcast in the specified calendar year

Geographic Scope

• United States only

Focus Areas

• Mental health issues and treatments
• Exemplary journalism that advances understanding of mental health

What They Fund

• Journalism entries from print, broadcast, and online media
• Types of work: investigative reporting, feature stories, and other journalistic excellence in mental health coverage

Contact Information

• Email: info@theluvuproject.org
• Phone: 240-614-7766
• Website: theluvuproject.org

Application Process

Submissions are administered through the National Press Foundation (NPF) website. Annual entry periods typically open in mid-January and close in mid-March. Winners are announced in May during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Judging

Entries are reviewed by an independent and esteemed panel of judges. Past judges have included prominent journalists such as Frank Deford, Bob Meyers, and Amalie Nash.

History

• First award presented in May 2016
• Winners include: Tampa Bay Times/Sarasota Herald-Tribune (2016), BuzzFeed News (2017), and The New York Times (2025)
• Award has drawn submissions from major publications including New York Times, Los Angeles Times, ABC, CNN, NPR, PBS Frontline, Washington Post, and others