Local investigative journalists reach into the heart of their communities, telling stories that matter. The MDDC Press Foundation is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to present the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism, awarding $15,000 in prize money in Maryland, Delaware and D.C.!
The MDDC Press Association is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation
to present the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. with cash awards totaling up to $15,000.
Three prizes are awarded in each jurisdiction:
First place: $5,000 for the reporter and $2,500 for the outlet that published or aired the winning story
Second place: $3,000 for the reporter and $1,500 for the outlet
Third place: $2,000 for the reporter and $1,000 for the outlet
(multiple bylines on a story share the prize)
Eligibility Criteria
- Who Can Apply: The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism is administered through the MDDC Annual Contest. All entries submitted into the E-8 category, Investigative Reporting will automatically be considered for the A-Mark Prize. The MDDC contest is open to staff members and freelancers of active organizational members and will compete in their assigned division. Individuals and non-members may enter the contest through Division S. Freelancers must enter through or with the permission of the publications they write for. Click for full Contest Rules.
- Publication Dates: Entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025 in Maryland, Delaware or D.C.
- Eligible Work: Standalone pieces or series.
- Entry Fee: $20 per entry. There is no limit to the number of entries an organization or individual may submit.
What to Submit: Submit your entry through the MDDC Contest portal (PDF of print entries, a URL for digital entries, or video/audio files may be submitted). Include a brief letter explaining the report’s actual or potential impact.
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Judging Criteria
- Quality of Journalism: Depth of research, accuracy, fairness, accountability.
- Quality of Presentation: Clarity, storytelling structure, and effective use of visuals or multimedia.
- Responsiveness to Community Needs: How well the reporting reflects and serves community concerns.
- Impact: Demonstrated or potential influence on awareness, public dialogue, policy, or community outcomes.
Awards & Prizes
Winners will be announced at the MDDC Awards Banquet on May 8th, 2026, in Annapolis, MD. Selected nominees may be invited to appear on MDDC’s podcast, Five Dubs.
How to Enter
MDDC members and Freelancers may enter via ACES Contest Portal starting December 1.
Non-member organizations should contact MDDC Contest Coordinator, Kristin Wagonblott for details.
About the A-Mark Foundation
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism is open to all journalists and all news organizations in Virginia. The A-Mark Foundationis 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.
About the MDDC Press Association
The MDDC Press Association exists to serve the diverse needs of our newspaper members in areas of common concern. Among them are professional training and development, legislative representation, and First Amendment issues. Founded in 1908 as the Maryland Press Association for weekly newspapers, the organization incorporated in Maryland as a nonprofit corporation in 1948 and began admitting daily newspapers to active membership that year. Today, MDDC consists of two corporations, the nonprofit Association and its for-profit subsidiary, MDDC Press Service, which operates the organization’s advertising programs. Additionally, in 1998 MDDC newspapers established an independent, charitable foundation, the MDDC Press Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation.