A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting

A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting is sponsored by A-Mark Foundation. Funds cash prizes to honor outstanding investigative reporting across the United States, with a portion also going to the news outlet that published the reporting.

A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting - A-Mark Foundation A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting The A-Mark Prizes award $15,000 per state, presented by press clubs and associations as part of their journalism contests in the states highlighted below. Winners will be listed below the map once they are announced in each state.

Mouse over a highlighted state for basic information or click on the state for details on the A-Mark Prize in that location. 2026 A-Mark Prize Recipients (alpha order) The results below are for the current year only. See the winners from previous years by clicking on a state in the map above.

Michelle Theriault Boots , “ The short life and sudden death of one of Alaska’s longest-institutionalized psychiatric patients ,” Anchorage Daily News Hal Bernton and Nathaniel Herz , “ How a Risky State Investment in Seafood Cost Alaskans Millions and Left a Fishing Town in Crisis ,” ProPublica and Northern Journal ( Link ) Emily Schwing , “ Alaska’s Crumbling Schools ,” KYUK (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Delaware: MDDC Press Association Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra , “ Hundreds of Delaware teachers found to be working on expired licenses in public schools ,” The News Journal (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 ) Jose Ignacio Castaneda Perez , “ ICE outreach to four Delaware police departments met with some reluctance ,” Spotlight Delaware (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Chris Flood , “ Rehoboth using AI-powered cameras to track license plates ,” Cape Gazette (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 ) District of Columbia: MDDC Press Association Steve Thompson , “ How D.

C. developers made big money on a taxpayer-funded housing project ,” The Washington Post ( PDF ) Katie Mettler and Michael Brice-Saddler , “ 230 dead Black boys. A ‘secret cemetery.

’ Officials knew, and didn’t act ,” The Washington Post ( PDF ) Olivia George, Meghan Hoyer, Steve Thompson, and Emma Uber , “ Who was arrested in Trump’s D. C. crime emergency?

We analyzed 1,273 records ,” The Washington Post (behind a paywall) Georgia: Atlanta Press Club Beau Evans , “ Killed while crossing ,” State Affairs Xavier Stevens , “ Two years after The Reserve at LaVista Walk apartment complex burned down, residents still seek answers and atonement ,” Atlanta Magazine Ciara Cummings , “ Stolen Sobriety ,” WANF Atlanta News First Illinois: Chicago Headline Club Frank Main and Alexandra Salomon , “ Chicago Under Ice ,” Chicago Public Media (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 ) Block Club Chicago Staff , “ Chicago Under Siege: Block Club’s Coverage of Operation Midway Blitz ,” Block Club Chicago (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) Manny Ramos, Mick Dumke, Stephanie Lulay, Jen Sabella, and Kelly Bauer , “ Some Call It ‘Death Hospital’: Inside The Northwest Side Medical Center Plagued By Problems ,” Block Club Chicago Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Tony Cook, Emily Hopkins, Peter Blanchard, and Jordan Smith , “ Mr Clean ,” IndyStar and Mirror Indy (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Bob Segall, Ryan Thedwall, and Susan Batt , “ 13 Investigates: What Happened Inside ,” WTHR ( Link ) Leslie Bonilla Muñiz and Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism staff , “ LEAP spending nears $1B, investigation finds ,” Capital Chronicle and Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism Iowa Newspaper Association Lee Rood , “ Iowa’s problematic towing laws ,” Des Moines Register (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 ; PDF of series) Monica Cordero , “ Investigative impact for marginalized communities ,” Investigate Midwest (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Sarah Weber , “ Buckle up ,” (PDF of series), Orange City – Sioux County Capital Democrat Finn Hartnett , “ Cop faces new allegations ,” Marion County Record (Links: 1 , 2 ) Stefania Lugli , “ Swept away: Realities of homelessness defy strict approach ,” The Journal David Hudnall , “ 7-OH and American Shaman ,” The Kansas City Star (Links: 1 , 2 ) Kentucky: Society of Professional Journalists – Louisville Pro Chapter Josh Wood , “ In a Small Town ” (PDF of series), The Courier Journal (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) Josh Wood and Keyla Holmes , “ Other Side of the Law ” (PDF of series), The Courier Journal (Links: 1 , 2 ) Connor Giffin and Olivia Evans , “ BlueOval SK ” (PDF of series) The Courier Journal (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 ) Louisiana: SPJ Louisiana Professional Chapter Jillian Kramer and Jeff Adelson, “ Longing for Justice ,” The Times-Picayune / The Advocate (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , behind a paywall) David Hammer, “ The George Santos of New Orleans ,” 4WWLTV Alena Maschke, “ Blood Money ,” The Current Maryland: MDDC Press Association Kate Cimini , “ Maryland Freestate Challenge Academy teen cadet says he was beaten, concussed at camp ,” The Baltimore Sun ( Link ; PDF of series) Liz Bowie, Greg Morton, Ryan Little, and Allan James Vestal , “ Transit Nightmare: Thousands of Baltimore kids can’t get to school on time ,” The Baltimore Banner (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Mark Reutter , “ Board of Estimates set to spend more on software company owned by husband of deputy mayor ,” Baltimore Brew Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists A.

J.

Lagoe, Kelly Dietz, Gary Knox, and David Peterlinz , “ KARE 11 Investigates: Housing Hustle ,” Kare-TV Andy Mannix, Jessica Lussenhop, and Leila Navidi , “ Forgive and Forget: A Church’s Dark Side ,” The Minnesota Star Tribune and ProPublica John Ramos , “ Hermantown officials deceived citizens, manipulated public process to pave way for data center ,” Duluth Monitor (Link: 1 , 2 ; PDF of series) Mississippi Press Association Anthony Warren, C.

J.

LeMaster, Quentin Smith, Keith Honore, and Teddy Reidy , “ City of Jackson Water Woes ,” WLBT-TV (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) Allen Siegler , “ The Black Box: Inside Mississippi’s Opioid Settlement Spending ,” Mississippi Today (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Cadence Harvey, Emma McRae, and Zack Plair , “ CPD Officers Falsely Blame Civilian for High-Speed Crash ,” The Commercial Dispatch Nebraska Press Association Carrie Pitzer , “ Courthouse Security, Open Meetings and Legal Accountability in Knox County ,” (PDF of series), Knox County News Destiny Herbers , “ Dying Blind ,” Flatwater Free Press (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Sara Gentzler , “ Pattern of alleged staff sexual abuse at state-run youth center ,” Flatwater Free Press ( Link ) New York Press Association David Olson, Arielle Martinez, Macy Egeland, and Joshua Solomon, “ Broken Practice ,” Newsday (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , behind a paywall) Newsday Staff, “ Dangerous Roads ,” Newsday (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , behind a paywall) Emilie Munson, “ New York’s Public Campaign Finance Program ,” Times Union (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ; PDF of series) Ryan Kost, Willow Higgins, Oishika Neogi, and Curtis Brodner, “ Innocence Ignored ,” NY Focus North Dakota Newspaper Association Jacob Orledge , “ Extracted: How oil companies pull more money from North Dakota mineral owners ,” North Dakota Monitor (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Hannah Shirley , “ Mother seeks answers in police shooting ,” Grand Forks Herald ( PDF ) Joey Harris , “ Loan to exempt Basin from $471M charge ,” Bismarck Tribune ( PDF ) Ohio: Press Club of Cleveland Duane Pohlman , “ Fallout: Contamination, Cancer & Death ,” WKRC-TV Laura Bischoff and Stephanie Warsmith , “ Vicious: An investigation into how Ohio laws fail thousands of dog attack victims ,” The Columbus Dispatch , Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal , and Canton Repository Max Filby, Danae King, Samantha Hendrickson, and Samantha Madar , “ Invisible Killer ,” The Columbus Dispatch (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Oklahoma Press Association Nick Bowlin , “ Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground.

Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it ,” The Frontier Corey Jones , “ Car chases: Danger and deaths ” (PDF), Tulsa World J. C.

Hallman , “ Traffic Scheme Nets Texas County DA’s Office Millions ,” Oklahoma Watch South Carolina Press Association Tony Bartelme, Glenn Smith, and John Dell’Osso , “ Uncovered: Power & Polo/The Russians Next Door ,” The Post and Courier (Links: 1 , 2 ) Cynthia Beasley and Maggie Brown , “ Price of Pursuit ,” WIS News 10 Zak Koeske , “ SC school district spent $200K on out-of-state trips, including 5-day tour of London ,” The State (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , behind a paywall) South Dakota NewsMedia Association Joshua Haiar , “ Company that hired state’s former head of economic development benefits from $69 million in aid ,” South Dakota Searchlight ( Link ) Morgan Matzen , “ See where SD universities, foundations spent millions on property ,” Sioux Falls Argus Leader Luke Hagen and Patrick Lalley , “ SD American Legion says coach, board must go before allowing Mitchell baseball back on field ,” Mitchell Republic and Sioux Falls Live (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ; create a free account to read these articles) Tennessee Press Association and Foundation Joan McClane, Ellen Gerst, and Siena Duncan , “ Enterprise South Nature Park Land Swap ,” Chattanooga Times Free Press (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , behind a paywall) Paige Pfleger , “ Guns in Dangerous Hands ,” Nashville Public Radio in partnership with ProPublica (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ) Angele Latham , “ Banned Books Database ,” The Tennessean ( Link ) Virginia Press Association Peter Cary, Christopher Stern, Lynn Medford, Doug Stroud, and Laura Stanton , “ The New Energy Crisis ,” Fauquier Times Cardinal News Staff , “ State of Surveillance: Everyone’s Watching ,” Cardinal News (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) Joey LoMonaco, Kendall Perkinson, Taft Coghill Jr., Kathy Knotts, and Lindley Estes , “ The Tribe ,” Fredericksburg Free Press (Open in Apple Podcasts or Spotify ) Washington: SPJ Western Washington Professional Chapter Kelsey Turner , “ Protecting Abused Kids ,” InvestigateWest Rebecca Moss , “ Uncommitted: McNeil Island’s Special Commitment Center ,” The Seattle Times Moe K.

Clark and Andy Nystrom , “ Teacher sexual misconduct on Mercer Island ,” InvestigateWest and Mercer Island Reporter Wisconsin Newspaper Association Jenna Rae , “ Housing Authority Accountability ,” WTMJ 4 News (Links: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) Danielle DuClos , “ High-speed police chases ,” The Cap Times Todd Milewski and Jim Polzin , “ Shattered Dreams ,” Wisconsin State Journal ( Link ; PDF of series) Wyoming Press Association Sarah Squires and Marit Gookin , “ (Tax) Money and Politics ,” Riverton Ranger ( PDF ) Sarah Squires and Marit Gookin , “ Premature Publication ,” Lander Journal ( PDF ) Alex Taylor , “ Wyoming AD Tom Burman under contract until 2027 ,” Laramie Boomerang