Last updated December 23, 2025.
The Chicago Headline Club is excited to announce a new award to honor
local journalism: the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting and
Editing. The award will honor one or more reporters and their editors
who in tandem wrote and 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 reporter(s). $2,500 to publishing outlet(s).
Second prize: $3,000 to reporter(s). $1,500 to publishing outlet(s).
Third prize: $2,000 to reporter(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 reporter 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,
2025, and December 31, 2025.
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 reporter nominees will be awarded a cash prize to be
divided among named reporter nominees. Up to three individuals may be
named on a team entry; otherwise the nomination must be made in the
name of newsroom staff.
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.
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 Saturday, January 10
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 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
annualLisagor Awards. The Headline Club also supports SPJ’s mission to
protect a free press and promote a well-informed citizenry.
About A-Mark: 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 our
Previous Content section.
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting and Editing
Names of reporter(s) and editor(s) who worked on on the story/stories submitted:
Media used (print/broadcast/online, etc.)
Story Title/Subject:
Date(s) published, broadcast or posted:
Briefly explain the challenges you faced during your reporting and how
you overcame them, as well as the work the editor did, how they
shepherded the project to publication, and how they contributed to the
published work.
Submitted by:
Email:
Submit the entire work, stories, graphics, etc. URL or link is
preferred, or send remote storage link or compressed files to:
Subject: A-Mark Award Submission.
Nominations must be sent no later than January 10 at 11:59 p.m.