The Sinclair Prize for the most outstanding historical podcast recognizes an exceptional contribution to the dissemination of historical knowledge to the broader public in periodic audio form. Inspired by the AHA’s Guidelines for Broadening the Definition of Historical Scholarship (2023), the Sinclair Prize encourages the combining of historical scholarship with podcast technology. It honors distinguished historical programming produced with skill and artistry. The current prize amount is $1,000.

Criteria for Assessment

1. Stimulation of Interest in History: The podcast should generate interest in the past and encourage listeners to ask questions about historical interpretations.
2. Imaginative Use of the Media: The podcast should provide a creative insight into the past through compelling use of aural techniques. Successful nominees may take a wide variety of approaches to the past, including innovative presentational approaches beyond the traditional linear narrative.
3. Effective Presentation of Historical Subject: The podcast should communicate its subject in ways that engage and enlighten listeners and encourage them to seek additional insights through reading and other media. It should be informed by trends in recent historical scholarship and contribute, in its own right, to the public’s understanding of and appreciation for history.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Audio periodic podcasts (or podcast episodes in a series) that have been released in 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be eligible for the 2024 prize. (Starting in 2025 the prize will be limited to podcasts released within the prior year.)
2. Podcasts developed by individuals, groups, or institutions will be considered.
3. Podcasts must mostly or exclusively draw upon peer-reviewed manuscripts or synthetic works produced by practicing historians respected in their fields.
4. Submissions should be two to four hours in length and in English. The series as a whole to which the nominated episode(s) belong will be acknowledged in the award announcement.
5. The prize winner need NOT be professionally employed or formally trained as an historian, nor must the podcast produce new historical knowledge.

Application Process

Log into your MY AHA account at historians.org/myaha and click “Available Application Forms” in the AHA Awards, Grants, and Jobs section. If you don't have an account, create one for free at historians.org/createaccount. If nominating someone else, select the Nominate button and search for the nominee’s existing record or create a new record.

1. Fill in the application form, which includes
   • the nominee’s contact information
   • the title of the nominated podcast series and episode(s)
   • the names of the writer(s), on-air host(s), and other contributor(s)
   • any instructions for accessing the podcast
2. If you would like to directly submit audio file(s) of the nominated podcast, please upload it to this Dropbox link.
3. Upload an Application Packet as a single PDF in the Supporting Documents section. Include the following document:
   • bibliography of sources
4. Letters of recommendation are NOT required.

Please Note: Entries must be received by May 15, 2024, to be eligible for the 2024 competition. Entries will not be returned. Recipients will be announced on the AHA website in October 2024 and recognized during a ceremony at the January 2025 AHA annual meeting in New York.

For questions, please contact the Prize Administrator.