Deadline: 17-Sep-2026
The David Nyhan Prize recognizes journalists who produce impactful reporting on politics, public policy, government decision-making, and the relationship between power and communities. The award supports journalists who investigate how policies affect everyday people, hold institutions accountable, and contribute to fairer public discussions.
The program includes two awards: the David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism for experienced journalists with a strong record of policy reporting, and the David Nyhan Emerging Talent Journalism Award for early-career and student journalists demonstrating potential in public policy journalism.
About the David Nyhan Prize
The David Nyhan Prize honors journalists whose work explains how politics and public institutions function beyond traditional election coverage. It recognizes reporting that explores:
- How government decisions influence communities and individuals
- Who holds political and institutional power
- How public policies are created and implemented
- The experiences of people affected by government actions
- Opportunities to improve fairness and accountability in governance
The award encourages journalism that provides deeper understanding of public policy issues rather than focusing only on political competition or campaign reporting.
Objectives of the Award
The David Nyhan Prize aims to:
- Promote high-quality public policy journalism
- Support investigative reporting on government and institutions
- Recognize journalists who explain complex policy issues clearly
- Encourage accountability journalism
- Highlight voices of communities outside traditional centers of power
- Strengthen public understanding of how government works
Award Categories and Prize Amounts
The program offers two journalism awards:
David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism
This award recognizes mid-career and senior journalists who have demonstrated long-term commitment to public policy reporting.
Eligible journalists should have:
- A significant body of published journalism
- Experience analyzing government and policy issues
- A record of impactful reporting
- Commitment to explaining political systems and public decisions
Prize Amount:
The winner receives $4,000.
David Nyhan Emerging Talent Journalism Award
This award supports early-career and student journalists who demonstrate strong potential in public policy reporting.
Eligible candidates should show:
- Early achievements in journalism
- Strong reporting skills
- Interest in government and public policy issues
- Commitment to ethical journalism practices
Prize Amount:
The winner receives $1,000.
If a reporting team or partnership receives an award, the prize money will be divided equally among the partners.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants and nominees must meet the following requirements:
- Must be U.S.-based journalists
- Can work in any journalism format, including:
- Print journalism
- Digital journalism
- Audio reporting
- Video journalism
- Multimedia journalism
- May work for:
Eligible journalism work may include:
- Investigative reporting
- Public policy analysis
- Government accountability reporting
- Political journalism with original research
- Opinion or commentary pieces containing substantial original reporting
Types of Journalism Recognized
The award recognizes reporting that:
- Investigates government systems and decision-making
- Explains policy consequences for communities
- Examines political institutions and public leadership
- Provides evidence-based analysis of public issues
- Brings attention to underrepresented voices
- Encourages transparency and accountability
Examples of suitable topics may include:
- Healthcare policy
- Education systems
- Economic policy
- Environmental regulations
- Social programs
- Government reforms
- Public administration
Why This Award Matters
Public policy decisions affect millions of people, but government processes can often be difficult to understand. Quality journalism helps citizens understand:
- Why decisions are made
- Who benefits from policies
- Who may face challenges because of those decisions
- How public systems can become more effective and inclusive
The David Nyhan Prize supports journalists who bridge the gap between policymakers and the public by explaining complex issues in accessible ways.
Application Requirements
Applicants or nominators should prepare journalism materials demonstrating the journalist’s contribution to public policy reporting.
Required materials generally include:
- Examples of published journalism work
- Evidence of original reporting
- Information about the journalist’s experience
- Explanation of the impact and importance of submitted work
Submitted work must:
- Be written or produced in English
- Include English translations if originally published in another language
- Demonstrate strong journalistic standards
How to Apply
The application process generally involves the following steps:
- Identify the appropriate award category
- Choose the Public Policy Journalism Prize for experienced journalists.
- Choose the Emerging Talent Award for students and early-career journalists.
- Prepare journalism samples
- Select work that demonstrates policy reporting, investigation, and public impact.
- Provide professional information
- Include details about journalism experience and achievements.
- Submit supporting documents
- Upload required materials according to the official application requirements.
- Evaluation by reviewers
- Submissions are reviewed based on reporting quality, originality, impact, and commitment to public policy journalism.
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Quality of journalism
- Depth of reporting
- Understanding of public policy issues
- Original research and investigation
- Public impact of the reporting
- Ability to explain complex issues
- Commitment to ethical journalism
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting work without original reporting
- Focusing only on political events without policy analysis
- Providing unclear explanations of impact
- Submitting incomplete application materials
- Ignoring journalism ethics and accuracy standards
- Choosing articles that do not demonstrate public policy relevance
Tips for Strong Applications
To improve the chances of selection:
- Select reporting that created public understanding or discussion
- Highlight how the work affected communities
- Demonstrate investigative skills
- Show evidence of accountability reporting
- Include journalism that explains policy consequences clearly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism?
The David Nyhan Prize is a journalism award recognizing reporters who explain government, politics, and public policy through impactful reporting that improves public understanding.
Who can apply for the David Nyhan Prize?
The award is open to U.S.-based journalists working in print, digital, audio, video, or multimedia formats. Journalists may work for organizations, as freelancers, or independently.
What is the difference between the two award categories?
The David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism recognizes experienced journalists with substantial reporting experience, while the Emerging Talent Journalism Award supports early-career and student journalists.
How much funding does the award provide?
The main journalism prize provides $4,000, while the Emerging Talent Journalism Award provides $1,000.
Can freelance journalists apply?
Yes. Freelance and self-employed journalists are eligible if they meet the program requirements and demonstrate professional journalism standards.
What type of journalism work can be submitted?
Applicants can submit reported journalism and opinion or commentary pieces that include significant original reporting related to politics, government, and public policy.
Are translated journalism works accepted?
Yes. Work originally published in another language may be submitted if an English translation is provided.
Conclusion
The David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism supports journalists who go beyond traditional political reporting to explain how government decisions, institutions, and policies affect society. By recognizing investigative, ethical, and community-focused journalism, the award strengthens public understanding and encourages more accountable governance.
For more information, visit Shorenstein Center.