Through its numerous prizes and lectures, the Shorenstein Center recognizes the best journalists and authors working today, as well as politicians making a difference in the realm of public policy.
The Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics commemorates the life of the reporter and historian who set the standard for contemporary political journalism and campaign coverage. Since 1989 the annual White Lecture has been delivered by a noted politician, journalist, or author, and is one of the highlights of the Center’s year. The David Nyhan Prize honors outstanding work in the field of political journalism, and is awarded prior to the Theodore H. White Lecture.
The Goldsmith Awards Program has as its goal the encouragement of a more insightful, spirited public debate about government, politics and the press. It includes the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, Goldsmith Book Prize, and the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism.
The Richard S. Salant Lecture on the Freedom of the Press was established in 2008 by the estate of Dr. Frank Stanton in honor of his longtime friend and colleague, Richard S. Salant, an ardent defender of the First Amendment and passionate leader of broadcast ethics and news standards.
A list of upcoming lectures and prizes is available on our events calendar, while information on past awards can be found in our archives.

Shawn Donnan awarded 2022 Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School announces the winner of the 2022 Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism: Shawn Donnan is senior writer for Bloomberg News, where he covers economics with an emphasis on where policy meets people and the real world. His reporting appears across the organization’s many

Submissions now open for 2023 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting
Has your reporting made an impact on U.S. government or policy at the national, state, or local level (or do you know a journalist whose stories have made a difference)? Apply for the 2022 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting from Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. The Goldsmith Prize, now in its 30th year, seeks

Steve Lopez wins 2021 Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and the Nyhan Prize Selection Committee has named Steve Lopez, columnist at the Los Angeles Times, as the winner of the 2021 Nyhan Prize in Political Journalism. The Nyhan Prize honors a political journalist who covers politics and social policy in the public interest, and embodies

Michele Norris to be honored with the 2022 Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism
The Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism is given annually for outstanding contributions to the field of journalism, and for work that has enriched our political discourse and our society. This year’s winner is Michele Norris, whose career in print, television, and radio has made her a leading voice on race, identity, and the

Announcing the Finalists for the 2022 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School is proud to announce the six finalists for the 2022 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. The Goldsmith Prize, founded in 1991 and funded by a gift from the Greenfield Foundation, honors the best public service investigative journalism that has made an impact

Announcing the Winner of the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School is pleased to present the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting to: “Mississippi’s Dangerous and Dysfunctional Penal System” by Joseph Neff, Alysia Santo, Anna Wolfe, and Michelle Liuof The Marshall Project, Mississippi Today, Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, and the USA TODAY Network. The Goldsmith