Kappa Tau Alpha, the national college honor society founding in 1910 for scholarship in journalism and mass communication, has recognized research contributions to the field since the inauguration of the award in 1944. The winning author receives a $1000 prize.

Entries are judged by a panel of university professors of journalism and mass communication and national officers of Kappa Tau Alpha.

Robert Hariman and John Louis Lucaites won the award for the best book published in 2007 for No Caption Needed: Iconic Photographs, Public Culture, and Liberal Democracy. (The university of Chicago Press, 419 pp). The authors use a handful of familiar photographs to provide an interpretation of the evolution and future of our political society and our individual and collective roles within it. Thoughtfully and exhaustively researched, the book traces the juxtapositions between liberalism and democracy, the individual and the aggregate, citizens and consumers. "These iconic photographs do to me again here what the authors so eloquently argue they do for public art. While I admire the creativity of those who have exploited each of these images to their own ends, it's the originals that really haunt and resonate. What a treasure to have them all in one book, accompanied by such thoughtful commentary and insight" (Tony Rimmer, California State University-Fullerton, a finalist judge and President of Kappa Tau Alpha). The authors extend their book with a blog devoted to everyday journalistic practices (see www.nocaptionneeded.com)

Earning Top Three recognition, in addition to the winning entry, were Marcus Prior for Post-Broadcast Democracy: How Media Choice Increases Inequality in Political Involvement and Polarizes Elections and Harry Haskell for Boss-Busters & Sin Hounds: Kansas City and Its Star. Other finalists were: Neil Henry for American Carnival: Journalism Under Seige in an Age of New Media, Karen M. Kedrowski and Marilyn Stine Sarow for Cancer Activism: Gender, Media and Public Policy and Joyce Kumar for Managing the President's Message: The White House Communications Operation

Books with a 2008 copyright will be received until Dec. 9, 2008. Books with a 2008 copyright received after the entry deadline may be accepted in the current year's competition if arrangements are made prior to the deadline. Entries that cannot be accomodated will be held over to the following year.

Edited volumes (i.e., collected works by several authors), textbooks and revised editions previously entered are not eligible. Paperback editions are acceptable. To enter, send six copies to: