The Iowa Newspaper Foundation (INF) is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to present the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting with $15,000 in prize money. The A-Mark Prize will be awarded in February 2026, as part of the INF’s annual awards.
Investigative stories are defined as those which demand (a) research into documents and public records; (b) multiple interviews, which may include background sources never mentioned in the story; (c) documentation of time and depth of research on story; (d) planning for the articles.
Judges will consider such points as community-wide interest, the effect of the story on the community, staff time spent on the story, depth of research, the newspaper's commitment to the project, and the risks involved in publishing the information.
Entries in print or a combination of media are allowed (print, digital, audio, video, multimedia). Entries may include a series. A maximum of five supporting pieces may be submitted per entry. Entrants are asked to submit an additional explanation responding to points (a) through (d) and its impact on the community. The explanation is to be no more than one page, double-spaced.
About The A-Mark Foundation
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.