DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 30, 2025
SPJ Detroit Announces the New A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism Offering
$15,000 in Cash Awards
The Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to conduct a new journalism competition to encourage and reward investigative and revelatory journalism.
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism recognizes outstanding work in Michigan with $15,000 in prize money for journalists and their newsrooms.
- First place: $5,000 for the reporter(s) and $2,500 for the news organization that published, broadcast or posted the winning entry
- Second place: $3,000 for the reporter(s) and $1,500 for the news organization
- Third place: $2,000 for the reporter(s) and $1,000 for the news organization
The cash prizes, sponsored by the A-Mark Foundation, will be awarded at a special reception in September.
The contest is seeking ambitious, well-researched reporting that may expose a wrong, hold powerful individuals accountable, or explore a complex problem, issue or subject. These stories should contain information not readily available to the public or news media, obtained through the reporter or news organization’s initiative.
Entries will be judged on the quality, depth and relevance of their research and reporting, along with the impact the reporting has had or potentially may have.
Submissions will be accepted from all news platforms, including print publications, broadcast, digital and social media, which were published, posted or broadcast between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
The contest will open on May 14, 2025. The deadline for complete entries is June 30, 2025. The winners will be announced at a public event in September 2025.
Entry Details:
- The entry fee is $40 for SPJ members and $60 for non-SPJ members
- Work from any medium is eligible.
- Work published or broadcast between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025, is eligible. A series of stories must have started publication or broadcast within that time frame.
- Both single stories and series are eligible. Entries may include up to five related stories.
- Entries must provide a supporting statement (500 words maximum) that explains the origin of the story idea, any unique aspects of the reporting, any challenges the reporter/team overcame to publish the story, the impact of the reporting and any other pertinent information.
- Reporting by an individual or team is eligible. See eligibility rules below.
- Entrants are responsible for providing contest organizers with instructions so that judges can access submissions that are housed behind paywalls.
- All nominations must meet standards set forth in the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. Entries should include all related corrections, clarifications or retractions.
- If you are experiencing difficulty accessing the contest on the BetterBNC.com website, please following the detailed instructions you will find here – CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS
Eligibility:
- Michigan-based journalists (including freelancers and contract employees) working for news outlets in Michigan.
- Work done as part of a collaboration or partnership is welcome but must have a Michigan-based journalist on the entry and must have been published by a Michigan-based news outlet.
- Up to four individuals may be named on a team entry. If more than four individuals contributed to the reporting, the entry should list “staff.”
Key Dates:
- The contest opens on Monday, May 12, 2025.
- Entries and payment are due no later than 10 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Any questions? Contact spjdetroit.org
About A-Mark: The A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan nonprofit founded 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. Click here to learn more.
