CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Scripps Howard Foundation has announced that it has broadened the scope of the 1997 National Journalism Awards competition to recognize the achievements of a wider group of journalists.Categories in commentary and photojournalism have been added and competition in all award categories has been opened to wire service and broadcast network reporters for the first time, according to Judith G. Clabes, president and CEO of the Foundation.Also, two distinguished service award categories have been created to honor achievement in promoting literacy and championing the First Amendment guarantee of a free press. Nominations of journalists, non-journalists and organizations will be accepted in the two distinguished service categories. “These modifications in our awards allow us to broaden their scope and reach,” Mrs. Clabes said.The deadline for entries is Jan 31, 1998, with one exception. Entries for the Charles M. Schulz Award for college cartoonists are due Jan. 9. Work published or broadcast during 1997 is eligible for consideration. Trophies and cash awards totaling $40,000 will be presented March 26, 1998, during a banquet in Knoxville, Tenn., home of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Home & Garden Television and Cinetel Productions, operating units of the E.W. Scripps Co., which hosts the banquet.Competition rules and entry forms are available on the Scripps Howard Foundation’s web site at www.scripps.com/foundation.Following are the categories and criteria on which entries will be judged:Newspaper journalism:–Walker Stone Award for Editorial Writing – Honors outstanding achievement in editorial writing. Entries will be judged on general excellence, quality of writing, forcefulness and importance to the public interest.–Ernie Pyle Award for Human Interest Writing – Honors newspaper writing that most clearly exemplifies the style and craftsmanship of the late Ernie Pyle. Human interest, warmth and the faculty for telling a story rank high in the judging.–Edward J. Meeman Awards for Environmental Reporting – Recognizes outstanding environmental reporting. The award was established to encourage journalists to help educate the public and public officials on environmental issues. There are two awards in this category. One each for newspapers over 100,000 circulation and newspapers under 100,000 circulation.–Roy W. Howard Awards for Public Service Reporting. Recognizes outstanding public service and/or investigative reporting. “Public service” is defined as exposure of and contribution to the alleviation of corruption, crime, health problems or other situations harmful to the general welfare. There are two awards in this category. One each for newspapers over 100,000 circulation and newspapers under 100,000 circulation.–Commentary. Entries will be judged on general excellence, quality of writing, expression and thought, clarity, tone and style.–Photojournalism. Honors outstanding photojournalism in daily newspapers. Entries will be judged on general excellence, quality of image, composition, display and impact.College cartoonist:–Charles M. Schulz Award. Honors an outstanding college cartoonist, strip or editorial.Distinguished service:–Charles E. Scripps Award for Distinguished Service to Literacy. Open to individuals and organizations, judges will consider the scope and influence of efforts to combat illiteracy. –Edward Willis Scripps Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment. Honors an individual or an organization for distinguished service to the cause of the First Amendment guarantee of a free press, including, but not limited to, fighting the threat of censorship in America, overcoming public uneasiness with regard to press credibility, combating government secrecy and instilling in the public an appreciation of its need as well as its right to know. Multiple winners may be named at the judges’ discretion.Broadcast/Cable Journalism:–Jack R. Howard Awards for Journalistic Excellence in Electronic Media. Honors the best investigative or in-depth reporting of events covered by television and/or cable systems and radio stations or cable systems. There will be four awards in this category. One each for radio stations in the top 50 markets and for radio stations in smaller markets; and one each for television stations/cable systems in the top 50 markets and stations and cable systems in smaller markets.Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes.