( Added: January 25, 2010 )  -  The Religion Newswriters Association invites journalists to enter its 2010 contests recognizing religion reporting excellence in the news media. Nearly $6,500 in prizes and citations is awarded in eight contest categories.

New this year: For the first time in its 60-year history, RNA now welcomes multimedia content for its Schachern Award, as well as entries to the following categories:

• Cassels Award for Religion Reporter of the Year at small newspapers (3 stories for entry)
• Cornell Award for Religion Reporter of the Year at mid-sized newspapers (3 stories for entry)
• Religion Reporter of the Year Award (5 stories for entry)
• Supple Award for Religion Writer of the Year (5 stories for entry)
• Schachern Award for Best Multimedia Packages & Online Pages Covering Religion (3 URLs for entry)
• Chandler Award for Student Religion Reporter of the Year (3 stories for entry)
• Radio Award for Religion Reporting (1 story for entry)
• Television Award for Religion Reporting (1 story for entry)

Complete contest rules and the online entry form is available here: http://www.rna.org/?page=contests

Entry deadline: Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 (Chandler student contest deadline is May 2, 2010).

In addition to its annual reporting contests, RNA offers a wide spectrum of tools for journalists, including RELIGION | LINK, the only religion story idea and source list by journalists, for journalists; the Lilly Scholarships in Religion for Journalists program; the RNA Annual Conference (Sept. 23-25, 2010, Denver, Colo.); a religion stylebook and primer; religion headlines; and resource Web sites.