Newman Prize for Chinese Literature

The Newman Prize for Chinese Literature was established in 2008 by Peter Gries, director of the Institute for US-China Issues at the University of Oklahoma (OU). The Newman Prize is awarded every two years. The winner is selected based on literary merit; any living author writing in Chinese is eligible for a recommendation. The Prize honors Harold J. Newman and Ruth Newman, who enabled the establishment of the OU Institute for US-China Issues.

Nominations, ceremony, and voting
Nominations for candidates and the selection of the winner are both handled by an international jury of what OU describes as "distinguished experts." The winner is awarded $10,000 and a plaque, and is invited to the University of Oklahoma to participate in an award ceremony and academic activities.

Voting takes place in successive rounds of “positive” elimination, in which jurors vote for all but one of the candidates at each stage. The Director of the OU Institute for US-China Issues counts the ballots to record each round of votes. The jury will continue voting until it narrows to one candidate, the winner. If there are ties for elimination in any but the final two rounds, the tied candidates will both be eliminated. Once three candidates remain, only one can be eliminated at a time.