The Chicago Headline Club is excited to announce a new award to honor local journalism: the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Editing. The award will honor one or more editors who edited investigative pieces that overcame significant challenges in order to reach publication, such as FOIA legal battles, reticent public officials, or other institutional barriers. First, second and third place winners, and their outlets, will receive a cash prize.
First prize: $5,000 to editor(s). $2,500 to publishing outlet(s).
Second prize: $3,000 to editor(s). $1,500 to publishing outlet(s).
Third prize: $2,000 to editor(s). $1,000 to publishing outlet(s).
Entries must have an Illinois or Northwest Indiana connection, meaning one or both of the following are true:
- The winning editor is based in Illinois or Northwest Indiana.
- The newspaper or media outlet is based in Illinois or Northwest Indiana.
In other words, a reporter who writes for the New York Times but is based in Champaign would qualify under criteria 1. A reporter who lives in Oregon but writes for the Chicago Tribune would qualify based on criteria 2. Nominees need not be members of the Chicago Headline Club.
Reports must have been published, aired or posted between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.
Nominations must be made by other editors or reporters. The nominations must identify how long they worked with the editor, their style of editing, and what makes them stand out amid other editors. They should provide a set of stories the editor has worked on with them.
All nominations must meet standards set forth in the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. Entries should include all related corrections, clarifications, or retractions.
Each entry must include a PDF or link accessible to judges to access the entry, a nomination form with the name of the entry, names of nominees, dates of publication or broadcast, and a link to or an inventory of attached materials; submission contact, title, and e-mail address; and an attached letter stating the project’s goals, obstacles and results. Please list all staff members to be named on a team entry and include any others who should be acknowledged as contributors.
Only named nominees will be awarded a cash prize to be divided among named nominees. Up to three individuals may be named on a team entry; otherwise the nomination must be made in the name of newsroom staff.
The Chicago Headline Club and the Chicago Headline Club Foundation are not responsible for errors or omissions in the nomination materials. The Chicago Headline Club has appointed a panel of judges to solicit and review nominations and select a slate of finalists.
Nominations are now open. The entry deadline is Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. There will be no extension.
The winners will be announced at FOIA Fest 2026 on Saturday, March 21.
How to enter
Please fill out this form. Email it to CHCAMarkAward@gmail.com.
If you have any questions, please email CHCAMarkAward@gmail.com.
About the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Editing
The A-Mark Prize is funded by a grant from A-Mark and is administered by the Chicago Headline Club and the Chicago Headline Club Foundation. The inaugural award was given in 2025 — initially as the A-Mark Prize for Dogged Reporting. In 2026, the Headline Club changed the award to honor investigative editors.
About the Chicago Headline Club
The Chicago Headline Club is the nation’s largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, as well as an independent nonprofit dedicated to supporting journalists and promoting the values of a free press across the region. Founded in 1921, the Club champions freedom of information issues, offers professional training and support and hosts the annual Lisagor Awards. The Headline Club also supports SPJ’s mission to protect a free press and promote a well-informed citizenry.
About A-Mark Foundation
A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in 1997. Initially, A-Mark Foundation made grants to various organizations, including ProCon.org, a website used by an estimated 20 million people annually. ProCon.org was acquired by Britannica.com in August 2020. The Foundation also published unbiased research on a variety of topics, which can now be accessed in its Previous Content section.