We love seeing outstanding journalists recognized and today we are proud to say that one university will be awarding “The Dan Rather medal for excellence in News & Guts.” Today, the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas at Austin wrote:

Dan Rather is now more than an icon – he is the namesake of new awards honoring his career and the work of today’s journalists. The Moody College of Communication and the School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas at Austin have established the Dan Rather Medals for News and Guts to recognize collegiate and professional journalists who overcome obstacles like stonewalling and harassment to speak truth to power.

“It has never been more important to encourage courage. The hope is that these medals will help lift up journalists who risk it all to tell tough truths.” 

-Dan Rather

The medals, to be awarded annually will recognize “journalists who defy overwhelming odds to report on important stories –- no matter the size of their newsrooms. Thus, the medals honor relentless reporting as well as exceptional content including text, audio, broadcast, video or graphics. The competition awards $5,000 each in the collegiate and professional categories.”

While journalism and journalists have long been under constant fire from the powerful, recognizing those who show “News and Guts” has never been more important than it is today.

Moody college of communication

Here’s more information on the awards and how to apply.