December 12, 2012 Humanities Tennessee’s literary website, Chapter 16, has won the Helen and Martin Schwartz Prize from the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The prize is awarded for innovative programs that have had a significant impact on citizens, organizations, or communities in their states. Chapter 16 is the leading provider of book-related content in Tennessee.
Founded three years ago, the site includes reviews, interviews, and features on Tennessee authors and books, and covers authors touring in the state. Its partnerships with the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Knoxville News Sentinel, Nashville Scene, and Nashville City Paper have helped those publications to cover local authors and book events in greater depth. Chapter16.org content reaches between 48,000 and 156,000 people weekly through local papers, and up to 9.5 million online visitors a month on third-party sites.
“We are honored that the site has been recognized at this level,” said incoming Humanities Tennessee Executive Director Tim Henderson. “We began it to fill a need for greater coverage and awareness of Tennessee’s thriving literary community and important heritage.”
Steve Cavendish, editor of the City Paper, praised the site: “Our partnership with Chapter 16 ensures that our readers have the best literary coverage in the city. Their interviews are illuminating and their reviews are insightful. I know that Chapter 16‘s judgment is outstanding, and the result is high-quality, Tennessee-focused journalism.”
Humanities Tennessee is a private nonprofit organization and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Based in Nashville, the organization conducts programs and awards grants across Tennessee. Its programs include the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word, grants to museums and libraries, awards for outstanding teachers, Museum on Main Street, and others. For complete information, visit the Humanities Tennessee website, here.
For more literary news, please visit Chapter 16’s News & Notes page, here.
