The A-Mark Foundation and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation recently announced the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Wisconsin.
Investigative reporters are highly trained to uncover and expose stories that reveal critical information that may not be immediately apparent or readily accessible.
However, pursuing these stories is no simple task, which is why the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the A-Mark Foundation have established a new $15,000 cash prize for reporters and newsrooms in Wisconsin.
Eligibility Criteria
- Who Can Apply: Open to all news media organizations based in Wisconsin, including newspapers, radio and TV broadcast outlets, and digital-only platforms.
- Publication Dates: Entries must have been published or aired between Sept. 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024.
- Eligible Work: Both standalone pieces and series are eligible for submission.
- Who Can Submit: Individual reporters, editors, and freelance journalists based in Wisconsin are welcome to apply, provided their work has been published or aired by Wisconsin-based news media organizations.
Judging Criteria
This award will recognize excellence in investigative reporting. Submissions will be evaluated based on the following core criteria. Not all elements need to be present in every submission, but reporting should demonstrate excellence in some or all these areas:
- Quality of Journalism: Judges will look for well-researched, thorough work that provides new insights or brings important issues to light. Whether it is investigative, solutions-oriented or service journalism, the work should be grounded in strong journalistic principles, such as accuracy, fairness and accountability.
- Quality of Presentation: Submissions should be clear, compelling and effectively presented in their chosen format(s)whether it is written, audio, video or multimedia. Judges will assess how well the story is structured, how accessible and engaging it is for the intended audience, and the integration of visuals, data or other storytelling elements that enhance understanding.
- Responsiveness to Community Needs: This criterion focuses on how well the reporting responds to the needs of the community it serves. Judges will consider how the reporting reflects community input or engagement, whether through direct collaboration, feedback or active listening. Solutions journalism that addresses specific local challenges or service journalism that provides essential, actionable information to the public is highly valued.
- Impact: Judges will evaluate the demonstrated or potential impact of the reporting. This can include raising awareness of critical issues, sparking public dialogue, influencing policy or providing practical solutions that lead to tangible changes. Impact also encompasses how the reporting benefits the community or advances public understanding in meaningful ways.
The contest will be administered by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation and judged by a committee of retired Wisconsin newspaper and broadcast journalists, as well as representatives from the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
The deadline to enter is Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Apply here.
Winners will receive the following prizes (winning submissions with multiple journalists or newsrooms will split the relevant prizes) :
First place — $5,000 for the journalist(s) and $2,500 to the news organization;
Second place — $3,000 for the journalist(s) and $1,500 to the news organization;
Third place — $2,000 for the journalist(s) and $1,000 to the news organization.
The A-Mark Awards will be presented on the evening of March 7, 2025, at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Annual Convention in Madison.
About the A-Mark Foundation
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism is open to all journalists and all news organizations in Wisconsin. The A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1997. A-Mark is dedicated to supporting and encouraging journalism and investigative reporting through grants to organizations that offer awards recognizing journalistic excellence. One of A- Mark’s flagship initiatives is the A-Mark Prizes program, which recognizes and rewards the best investigative journalism in each state.
About the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation
Created by and for Wisconsin’s newspapers in 1853, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association exists to strengthen the newspaper industry, enhance public understanding of the role of newspapers, and protect basic freedoms of press, speech and the free flow of information.
