The Sandy Hume Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Journalism shines a spotlight on excellent political reporting and writing by a young journalist for work done in 2016. The Hume Award is one of many offered in the National Press Club's annual journalism contest.

The award, named for The Hill reporter who broke the story of the aborted 1997 coup against House Speaker Newt Gingrich, honors excellence and objectivity in political coverage in print or online publications. Entrants, who must be 34 and under, must demonstrate analytical excellence and a clear knowledge of political issues and personalities.

Entries should be one article or a series of no more than 5 articles on a single topic from 2014. A letter describing how the reporting was done is encouraged. Supplemental material should be clearly marked, and passwords are required in needed to access online material. Remember, applicants must be 34 years old or younger at the time the entry was published. Each entrant's date of birth must be included.

The deadline to submit entries is April 1, and the contest is open to Press Club members and non-members. Non-members must pay a $50 entry fee; entries are free for members.

Remember that entries may now be submitted online. Applicants may still apply by mail if they wish. The prize is $750. The winner will be honored at an awards dinner at the National Press Club this summer.

For more information, see http://www.press.org/about/awards.