The Izzy Award is named after maverick journalist I. F. “Izzy” Stone, who launched I. F. Stone’s Weekly in 1953 and exposed government deception, McCarthyism, and racial bigotry. Presented by the Park Center for Independent Media annually for “outstanding achievement in independent media,” the Izzy Award goes to an independent outlet, journalist, or producer for contributions to our culture, politics, or journalism created outside traditional corporate structures.

Judges have changed throughout the years. For the 17th Annual Izzy Awards, judges included founding director of PCIM and FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting) Jeff Cohen, previous PCIM director Raza Rumi, associate director of PCIM Todd Schack, investigative journalism editor Esther Kaplan, media policy professor Victor Pickard, former chair of Ithaca College politics department Patricia Rodriguez, and media studies professor emerita Robin Andersen. The nominations and judging process were overseen by current PCIM director Mickey Huff and Marcy Sutherland, PCIM’s Communication and Research Coordinator.