A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Reporting

The A-Mark Prizes are awarded by press clubs and associations as part of their journalism contests in the states highlighted below. Winners will be listed below the map once they are announced in each state.

Click on a state highlighted in orange for details on the A-Mark Prize in that location, including a list of winners.

2025 A-Mark Prize Recipients (alpha order)

Alaska Press Club

First Place

Kyle Hopkins, “Hundreds of people charged with domestic violence, child abuse or DUIs are walking free in Anchorage,” Anchorage Daily News

Second Place

Claire Stremple, “False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions,” Alaska Beacon

Third Place

Nat Herz, “This oil platform stopped pumping 30 years ago. Alaska still won’t make the owner tear it down.,” Alaska Public Media

Indiana Society of Professional Journalists

First Place

Mary Claire Molloy and Jenna Watson, “Out of Options,” Mirror Indy (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Second Place

Hayleigh Colombo, James Briggs, Tony Cook, and Kayla Dwyer, “Sexual Harassment in Indiana Politics,” IndyStar (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Third Place

Emily Hopkins, Tyler Fenwick, and Jenna Watson, “Broken Housing,” Mirror Indy (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Illinois: Chicago Headline Club

First Place

Lisa Schencker and Emily Hoerner, “Medical Malpractice Series,” Chicago Tribune
Part 1 (PDF); Part 2 (PDF); Part 3 (PDF)

Second Place

Reema Amin and Mina Bloom, “Lost In Translation: Migrant Kids Struggle In Segregated Chicago Schools,” Chalkbeat Chicago and Block Club Chicago

Third Place

Madison Hopkins and Joe Mahr, “Many cameras. Little focus. Blurry results.,” Illinois Answers Project and Chicago Tribune

Nebraska Press Association

First Place

Chris Dunker and Andrew Wegley, “Pillen’s Plan Saves Him $1 Million in Taxes,” (PDF) Lincoln Journal Star

Second Place

Sara Gentzler and Alex Richards, “Ricketts’ Riches: How a wealthy governor and his family changed Nebraska politics,” Flatwater Free Press (Links: 1, 2, 3)

Third Place

Molly Ashford, “Why Didn’t Anyone Do Something,” (PDF) Omaha World-Herald

New York Press Association

First Place

Emilie Munson, Chris Hippensteel, Brendan Lyons, Taylor Johnston, and Alexandra Harris, “Serious police car crashes are spiking in New York, causing injuries and deaths” (PDF of entire series),Times Union (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Second Place

Adam Stone, “Corporate Care Series,” The Examiner News

Third Place

Anna Bradley-Smith, “Court Allows Partition Sale of Bed Stuy Home in Family for 75 Years,” Park Slope Courier

South Carolina Press Association

First Place

David Weissman, “CCU is hiding investigation of failed donor. Could FL college been spared embarrassment?,” (PDF) The Sun News

Second Place

Cynthia Beasley, “Columbia Municipal Court overcharged drivers more than $22,000 for blinker violations,” WIS News 10

Third Place

Zak Koeske, “They oversee SC charter schools. Why are Charter Institute’s leaders planning schools in TN?,” (PDF) The State

Wisconsin Newspaper Association

First Place

Kelli Arseneau, Drake Bentley, Ashley Luthern, Laura Schulte, and Vanessa Swales, “Wisconsin Prison Crisis,” (PDF) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Second Place

Cleo Krejci, “The Gray Zone,” (PDF) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Third Place

Bill Schanen IV and Kristyn Halbig-Ziehm, “Microchip Plant,” (PDF) The Ozaukee Press