NEW AWARD - CASH PRIZE!
A-Mark Prize for INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM in North Dakota
North Dakota Newspaper Association and the A-Mark Foundation have teamed up to create the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in North Dakota with cash awards totaling $15,000!
First Place: $5,000 - Journalist and $2,500 to the news organization
Second Place: $3,000 - Journalist and $1,500 to the news organization
Third Place: $2,000 - Journalist and $1,000 to the news organization
The contest for the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism will be open to all narrative journalists and non-broadcast news organizations in North Dakota.
The North Dakota Newspaper Association was founded in 1885 to support and advocate for all North Dakota newspapers.
The A-Mark Foundation (amarkfoundation.org) is a nonpartisan 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1997.
2024 Contest Criteria
This award will recognize excellence in investigative reporting. For this contest, investigative reporting will be defined as the development of information about government, organizations, businesses, institutions or individuals that is not readily available to the public and required exceptional skill and effort by the journalist. In many cases, the subjects of the reporting wish the matters under scrutiny to remain undisclosed. Information should be presented in a way that gives readers understanding and insight into subject matter that is not generally known to the public.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
> Substantially the work product of the journalist’s own initiative and effort.
> Uncovers facts that someone or some agency may have tried to keep from public scrutiny.
> Be about issues of public importance to the readers.
> Shows enterprise and excellence in documentation, data, storytelling, and reader involvement where appropriate.
>Results.
This contest is open to all narrative journalists and non-broadcast news media organizations based in North Dakota and their staff members and includes newspaper and digital-only platforms.
Freelance journalists based in North Dakota who’s reporting is published by North Dakota print news media organizations are also eligible to enter. Contestants who are not staff members of a newspaper must contact Cecile Wehrman, director@ ndna.com or call 701-223-6397 for credentials to sign in to the contest.
Entries must have been published in 2024 between January 1 and December 31. Entries must also include a written statement (500 words or less) outlining the background and scope of the entry and any potential outcomes resulting from the reporting. There is no fee to enter this category.
Entries are limited to one per individual or team. An individual who is part of a tema may also enter their own stand-alone entry.
ENTRY FEE for this category is $25.00
DEADLINE TO ENTER: 10:59 pm Central: Monday, January 20, 2025