The Shaufler Prize in Journalism
The Shaufler Prize in Journalism is the premier contest recognizing the best journalism in the country advancing the understanding of issues related to underserved people in society, such as communities of color, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities.
Ed Shaufler, who died in late 2020, cared deeply about promoting understanding of underrepresented people. Paul B. Anderson, principal and CEO of Workhouse Media, established the prize with the Cronkite School to honor his late friend. “Ed was a great observer of human behavior, both individually and in groups,” says Anderson. “He and I spent years just talking about journalism and stories and society. Ed loved that intellectual engagement around journalism, and I thought we should put his name to something that may have immediate and lasting impact for a journalist.”
The Shaufler Prize submission form will open in the fall.
2024 Shaufler Prize in Journalism Winners
- First place, professional: Robin McDowell and Margie Mason, The Associated Press, “Prison to Place.”
- Second place, professional: Stacy Kranitz and Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, “The Year After a Denied Abortion.”
- Third place, professional: Ronny Rojas, Angela Cantador, Albinson Linares, Brenda Medina and Martha Olivia Lopez, Telemundo, “Traileres, trampa para migrantes”
- Honorable mention, professional: Ottavia Spaggiari, The Margin, “Eroding Indigenous Sovereignty.”
- Student winner: NYCity News Service, “The Newest New Yorkers.”
2023 Shaufler Prize winners
First place, professional: Hannah Dreier, The New York Times, “Alone and Exploited.”
Second place, professional: Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, “Failing the Utes.”
Third place, professional: Rommel H. Ojeda and John Upton, “Surviving the Water: New York City’s Flooding Crisis in the Age of Climate Change.”
Student winner: Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York “Hard Lessons.”
2022 Shaufler Prize winners
First place, professional: Aydali Campa, Inside Climate News, a three-part series titled “The Superfund Site Next Door: Toxins and Mistrust in Atlanta.”
Second place, professional: Jamie Smith Hopkins, Center for Public Integrity; and a podcast team with Transmitter Media, for “The Wealth Vortex.”
Third place, professional: Susan Ferriss and Joe Yerardi, Center for Public Integrity, “Cheated at Work.”
Student winner: Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, University of Maryland; “Mega Billions: The Great Lottery Wealth Transfer.”
2021 Shaufler Prize winners
First place, professional: Toluse Olorunnipa and Griff Witte, along with the staff of The Washington Post, “Born with Two Strikes: How systemic racism shaped Floyd’s life and hobbled his ambition,” which was part of the series, “George Floyd’s America.”
Second place, professional: Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, “Tethered to the Machine.”
Third place, professional: Maria Perez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The Long Way Home”
Student winner: Cronkite School’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, “Little Victims Everywhere.” Reporters: Brendon Derr, Rylee Kirk, Anne Mickey, Allison Vaughn, McKenna Leavens and Leilani Fitzpatrick
Cash award
Professional media categoryFirst place: $10,000
Second place: $3,000
Third place: $2,000
Student category
Winner receives $5,000