News Inside, The Marshall Project’s print publication distributed to readers in prisons and jails across the country, has been honored with the annual Izzy Award by the Park Center for Independent Media. Each issue of News Inside is a collection of The Marshall Project’s award-winning journalism that relates directly to the lives of incarcerated people.
The publication is the brainchild of Lawrence Bartley, Director of News Inside, who joined The Marshall Project in 2018 after 27 years in prison. In his own words, Bartley knows “the frustrations of a hungry mind in prison. News Inside is my attempt to feed that hunger with credible information about the world of criminal justice—free of charge and free of hassles.”
We launched our pilot edition in February 2019 in 30 correctional facilities in 19 states. Now, News Inside is circulating in 502 facilities across the country. The most recent edition contains a ground-breaking survey on the political views of incarcerated people, created in partnership with Slate Magazine.
“It’s a labor of love to bring in-depth journalism to folks who crave it,” said Bartley. “I consider News Inside readers my friends, and every article I place before them is meant to empower and enrich their lives. For News Inside to be recognized with an Izzy Award is a win for every incarcerated person looking for an opportunity to show that he or she has changed.”
“I am delighted and proud that Lawrence’s inspired idea for News Inside has been recognized with an Izzy Award,” said Susan Chira, editor-in-chief. “Lawrence’s determination and innovation in creating and distributing News Inside has enabled us to directly reach incarcerated people and to learn more about their perspectives and opinions. It’s particularly gratifying to win an award in the name of a journalist who embodies the values and mission we cherish at The Marshall Project.”
Named for legendary investigative journalist I. F. “Izzy” Stone, the annual Izzy Award is presented by the Park Center for Independent Media (PCIM) at Ithaca College and honors outstanding achievement in independent media. PCIM will celebrate the 12th annual presentation of the Izzy Award in April in Ithaca, N.Y. See a list of all of this year’s winners here.
