– 2022 Judges –

Hannah Allam
Reporter,
The Washington Post

Tatal Ansari
US News Reporter,
The Wall Street Journal

Katherine Boo
Author and Co-Chair,
The Pulitzer Prizes

Antonia Hylton
Correspondent,
NBC News and MSNBC

Tracy Jan
Race and Economy Reporter,
The Washington Post

Cindi Leive
Co-founder,
The Meteor

Wesley Lowery
Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist

BA Parker
Writer/ Audio Producer,
Freelance

Perla Trevizo
Investigative Reporter,
Propublica — Texas Tribune

Keith Woods
Chief Diversity Officer,
NPR
News
WHAT’S NEW
FEATURES
Prize recipient Michelle García’s “A Dome Of Insecurity”
palabra. June 5, 2022
Two Freelance Journalists Awarded $100,000 Each for Elevating Stories of Underrepresented and Misrepresented Communities in the United States
Official Press Release February 10, 2022
2 win journalism award for work on underreported communities
The Washington Post February 9, 2022
Interview with 2022 Prize Recipient Julian Brave NoiseCat
Video: Indian Country Today Newscast February 10, 2022
This photojournalist got his start in Fresno. He just won a prestigious $100,000 prize
The Fresno Bee February 10, 2022
Writer and Activist Julian Brave NoiseCat Wins $100,000 American Mosaic Journalism Prize
Native News Online February 10, 2022
Two Journalists Awarded the American Mosaic Journalism Price
Audio: KNPR February 10, 2022
Fresno photojournalist wins $100,000 prize for elevating stories of immigrant communities
Audio: kvpr February 11, 2022
Canim Lake Band member wins journalism prize
The Williams Lake Tribune February 26, 2022
Former Fresno State student wins $100,000 in journalism award
The Collegian February 16, 2022
Prize recipient David Dennis Jr.’s “Civil Rights Activists Fought for America’s Democracy. They Should Be Honored as Veterans.”
The New York Times June 11, 2022
Prize recipient Jaeah Lee’s “This Rap Song Helped Sentence a 17-Year-Old to Prison for Life”
The New York Times March 30, 2022
Prize recipient Abe Streep wins the Montana Book award
Montana Book Award March 21, 2022
2 win journalism award for work on underreported communities
AP News February 9, 2022
2 win journalism award for work on underreported communities
San Francisco Chronicle February 9, 2022
Interview with 2022 Prize Recipient Julian Brave NoiseCat
Video: KRON4 February 10, 2022
Indigenous journalist awarded $100K prize
Indian Country Today February 10, 2022
Two Journalists Awarded the American Mosaic Journalism Price
Audio: KCBS February 10, 2022
Julian Brave NoiseCat, CC ’15, awarded $100K journalism prize for uplifting Indigenous voices
Columbia Spectator February 11, 2022
Julian Brave NoiseCat honored for journalism and writing on Indigenous topics
Essential West Magazine February 16, 2022
Knopf Author Julian Brave NoiseCat a Recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize
Penguin Random House February 17, 2022
Archived News
Read news, from previous years, about the American Mosaic Journalism Prize.
– FAQ –
Why did you create the American Mosaic Journalism Prize?
Exceptional journalism has the power to bring about new understanding. It can break down isolation. In this way, journalism can be deeply meaningful. We created this award to recognize and encourage journalists spending time on long-form, narrative, or deep reporting that fosters greater understanding of often underrepresented and/or misrepresented groups.
The prize is intended to call attention to these journalists and give them the freedom to continue their work.
What do the recipients receive?
The recipients of this prize each receive $100,000, unrestricted.
Who is eligible for this prize?
A freelance journalist of either print, digital, audio, or television, for a selection of work published in, or aired on, mass media outlets over the between August 2019 and July 2021.
In today’s journalism, freelancers are both vulnerable and valuable. With trimming of newsroom staffs, many journalists are working without the support of an institution. They are a one-person team of journalist, business manager, administrative assistant, accountant, and lawyer. They often work with limited financial resources. And yet, some of the most important works of journalism come from these individuals who have the freedom to commit long periods of time to their work.
What are the selection criteria?
The American Mosaic Journalism Prize is awarded to two freelance journalists for a selection of work published in or aired on mass media over a defined period (May 2021-May 2022 for the 2023 prize) prior to their nomination. Nominations are reviewed for excellence in long-form, narrative, or deep reporting on stories about underrepresented and/or misrepresented groups in the present American landscape, thereby breaking down isolation and stereotypes, and bringing new perspectives and understanding to audiences. Works of print, digital, audio, and visual journalism are considered. Books, films, and individual works not affiliated with a mass media outlet are not. Major consideration also includes the potential for future work.
Do the candidates know they have been nominated? When are decisions made?
We ask that nominators keep their nominations completely confidential. Only when the two recipients are informed of their selection do they learn that they had been considered for this prize. The selection is announced publicly in early February.
What is the Heising-Simons Foundation, and what does it support?
How many recipients are there?
Two per year.
Are there any strings attached to winning this prize?
No. We feel it is critical that this cash prize be unrestricted. The recipients can spend the money in any way they wish. We believe this helps protect their freedom as journalists. They have no obligation to the Foundation.
What is the selection process?
Guidelines for the prize are shared with more than 150 leaders in journalism— including a wide-ranging group of editors of publications and outlets from print, visual, audio, and digital journalism, practitioners, representatives from journalism groups and associations, and academic institutions—from across the country. All nominators remain confidential so as to not attract attention and solicitation. Each nominator is asked to submit a confidential nomination, not alerting the candidate. After receiving nominations, a group of established journalists reads and screens all eligible entries. Based on the readers’ scoring, staff then recommend semi-finalist selections and share with the year’s prize judges. The judges are not aware of a candidate’s nominator. The 10 judges review in advance and then deliberate during a meeting, agreeing on two recipients.
Can I apply for the prize?
The Foundation does not accept submissions for the prize. The Foundation relies on the journalism leaders serving as confidential nominators to surface the talent for this prize.
Why “underrepresented and/or misrepresented groups”?
Exceptional journalism has the ability to bring about greater understanding, and plays a critical role in helping us respect each other. The term is intentionally broad to allow for a wide range of subjects.
Are the 10 judges the same each year?
No. Each year, the judging committee includes a mix of new judges and returning judges from the prior year.