The deadline for a prestigious annual award for campaigning journalism is fast approaching.

Anyone wishing to enter the Paul Foot Award has until 1 September to dust down their cuttings and get their entries in.

Named after the former Private Eye and Daily Mirror journalist who died in 2004, the scheme celebrates the best investigative and campaigning reporting from the local and national press.

Individuals or a reporting team can enter and singular articles or an entire campaign series will be considered.

Work must have been published between 1 September last year and 31 August and have appeared in a newspaper, magazine or online – broadcast material is not eligible.

The overall winner will be awarded £5,000, with the five runners-up each receiving £1,000.

Last year the Rossington Community Newsletter, based in South Yorkshire, was shortlisted alongside journalists from The Times and Private Eye magazine whose editor Ian Hislop heaped praise on the monthly title.

And in 2007 Deborah Wain, from the Doncaster Free Press, shared first prize for exposing a failed education project in the town.

The judging panel for this year includes Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger and National Union of Journalists general secretary Jeremy Dear.