Nominations open for the 2026 Goldsmith Awards

The Goldsmith Awards, administered by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, highlight the essential role of a free press in a healthy democracy. The awards honor excellence in journalism that fosters more insightful debate and public understanding about government, politics and public policy in the United States.

The awards are free to enter, and are judged by panels of experts. Submissions will be accepted until January 5, 2026 for the two reporting prizes, and December 18, 2025 for the book prize. Learn more about each prize category below.

Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting

The Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting has, for over 30 years, honored investigative reporting that best promotes more effective and ethical conduct of government, the making of public policy, or the practice of politics. The winner receives $25,000, and five finalists receive $10,000.

News organizations of all types and sizes, as well as independent journalistic producers of documentary films and podcasts, can each submit up to two entries for the investigative reporting prize. Submissions must have been first published or publicly distributed between January 1 and December 31, 2025. All entries are due by January 5, 2026, and instructions for completing your submission can be found at the link above.

Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting

The new Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting seeks to honor and inspire excellent reporting that illuminates the “how” of governance in the United States – how public policy is implemented, how government systems and processes work, and what citizens can better understand about what government does.

The winner of the Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting receives $15,000, to be awarded directly to the winning journalist or team.

Submissions are accepted from the U.S. media organizations, news publications, or individuals operating under journalistic standards and ethics. All media, including newspapers, magazines, broadcast and streaming television and radio, podcasts, documentary films, and online news producers, are eligible. Each organization or entity can submit up to 5 entries per year. Submissions must have been first published or publicly distributed between January 1 and December 31, 2025. All entries are due by January 5, 2026, and instructions for completing your submission can be found at the link above.

Goldsmith Book Prize

The Goldsmith Book Prize is awarded annually two books that best fulfill the objective of improving democratic governance through an examination of the intersection between the media, politics and public policy.

Nominations are accepted from publishers and authors, and it is free to submit a book for consideration. Books must have been published between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025 for consideration for the 2026 Goldsmith Book Prize. One winner is selected in each category (trade and academic). Winners receive $5,000 and are invited to accept their award at the 2026 Goldsmith Awards ceremony.

Recent past winners include “Orwell’s Ghosts: Wisdom and Warnings for the Twenty-First Century” by Laura Beers, “Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight It” by Adam Berinsky, and “News Hole: The Demise of Local Journalism and Political Engagement” by Danny Hayes and Jennifer L Lawless.

Learn more about the Goldsmith Awards at GoldsmithAwards.org