Mee

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Through the end of this month, nominations will be accepted from across the nation for the 2024 Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards.

This new awards program is a collaboration between the Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications at Shepherd University and Newsweek magazine, according to Stubblefield Institute Communications and Events Manager Alison Mee.

“We are excited to announce that we will collaborate with Newsweek this year, around a nationwide search for people who are leading by example and promoting civil discourse, bipartisan collaboration and honest debate in the U.S,” Mee said. “The Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards will recognize individuals or institutions from a wide range of categories, from national leaders and non-profits to philanthropists and student organizations making a positive change in their communities. The winners will be selected by a bipartisan panel of judges from nominations submitted by Newsweek readers.”

According to Lee, the nomination period will end on March 31.

“Please join us in promoting civil discourse by nominating those who support the ideal of thoughtful debate and the search for common ground, those who work to foster good-faith debate and bridge political and cultural divides,” Mee said.

Nominations may be made in eight categories: federal elected official, state elected official, community leader, business, nonprofit organization, corporate philanthropist or foundation, individual philanthropist and student-run media organization. The winners of the 2024 Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards will be announced later this year.

“This partnership is an alignment of Newsweek’s mission of factual and fair journalism that welcomes diverse political and cultural voices with the Stubblefield Institute’s vision that it is the consideration of these differing viewpoints that will strengthen our nation and its ability to solve the problems that we collectively face,” said Stubblefield Institute Executive Director Ashley Horst. “We are pleased that Newsweek has chosen to partner with the Stubblefield Institute to take our message promoting civil and bipartisan discourse to the national stage.”

According to Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Nancy Cooper, this partnership between the two organizations is particularly timely, as the 2024 election campaigns intensify. Especially since campaigns often seek to sow division to garner support for individual candidates.

“Vigorous debate is a bedrock of democracy,” Cooper said. “In this era of fierce polarization, we at Newsweek believe the public is best served by a civil national discourse that reflects diverse perspectives. With that mission in mind, Newsweek is partnering with the Stubblefield Institute to celebrate the people and organizations who work to foster good-faith debate and bridge political and cultural divides.”

Mee noted that the origin of the Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards goes back to 2022, when the Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards were created. The Newsweek-Stubblefield National Awards Program, however, will be able to draw more public awareness to the awards and what they represent — the positive impact of factual civil discourse across partisan divides, as it invariably leads to increased empathy and innovative solutions.

To nominate someone for a civility award, go to newsweek.com/civilityawards.

For more information about nominating an individual or an organization, visit stubblefieldinstitute.org or call 304-876-5005.