Investigative reporters are trained to follow the money, but it takes resources to follow the money. That’s why the PNA Foundation and the A-Mark Foundation have created a new competition with cash prizes for Pennsylvania reporters and their newsrooms.
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to present the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania with cash awards totaling up to $15,000.
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
About: The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania is open to all journalists and all news organizations in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association represents the state’s newspapers and online news publications. 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.
Criteria: This contest recognizes an investigative story or series by a reporter or team of reporters on a single topic. Entries may include a single investigative story or multiple stories over a period of time. Entries should display original reporting revealing information otherwise not generally known that individuals, governmental agencies, businesses, elected officials or organizations do not want under public scrutiny. Judging criteria include depth of research, initiative, obstacles overcome, use of databases and public records, analysis of documents and records, use of multiple sources and impact on public policy. Entries must include a brief letter of explanation describing the actual or potential impact of the report.
Eligibility: This contest is open to all news media organizations based in Pennsylvania and their staff members, including newspapers, broadcast outlets and online news publications. Entries must have been published or aired between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024.
First, second and honorable mention winners from all divisions of the 2025 Professional Keystone Media Awards Contest (1) Investigative Reporting category and (B5) Best Investigative Reporting (Broadcast) category will compete for the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania and will automatically be entered into this competition by the PNA Foundation.
Deadline to enter this contest is April 30, 2025.
To enter: complete the entry form below and email the documentation for your entry along with the letter of explanation to foundation@pa-news.org by Wednesday, April 30. Please use “A-Mark Prize” in the subject line of your email. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Beginning with the 2026 Keystone Media Awards Contest, you will be able to upload your entries and letter of explanation in the BetterBNC Contest portal in the (S12) A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania category. All entries must be uploaded as electronic files or linked to a working and accessible URL. There is no additional fee for PNA members to enter this competition. Entry fee for non-members will be $34.
Judging: Each year, this contest will be judged by a committee of retired Pennsylvania newspaper and broadcast journalists, as well as representatives from the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State. Judges reserve the right to not award the number of specified awards or give no awards at all based on the number of entries received.
Winners will be announced by late June and honored at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Harrisburg.
Questions? Contact Teresa Shaak at 717-703-3003 or email foundation@pa-news.org for more details.
A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to present the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Pennsylvania with cash awards. Complete this entry form and remember to submit the documentation and letter of explanation for this entry to foundation@pa-news.org by Wednesday, April 30. Please use “A-Mark Prize” in the subject line of your email. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.