About Us
The mission of The Mongerson Prize
for Investigative Reporting on the News

The Mongerson Prize for Investigative Reporting on the News was established to honor outstanding journalists who uncover and correct incomplete, inaccurate or misleading news stories.

The Prize had as its goals:

• To improve news credibility by encouraging more reporting on media mistakes;
• To honor those who set the record straight on news stories;
• To promote high news standards so that the public receives the best, most reliable and accurate information possible.

Among journalism awards, this was the only one that recognized journalists for serving both their colleagues and the public by holding members of their own industry to the highest standards of truth, fairness, ethics and professionalism. It honored the "watchdog" role of journalists as it applied to the news industry itself.

The Prize was established in 2001 through a grant from Paul Mongerson, a retired engineer who since 1968 has been interested in the news media. He is the author of "The Power Press," a book that critiques the news media from the perspective of a news consumer. In 2004, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation gave the prize a two-year grant to further its promotion.

The Medill School of Journalism, through its Washington program, Medill News Service, began administering the program in 2003.

Assistant Dean Ellen Shearer praised Mongerson for offering the news industry a way to highlight its successes in improving credibility by correcting mistakes.

"This award provides reporters and editors who have the courage to investigate and report on our failings with recognition and acclaim for their important work," she said.

After the 2006 prize year, Paul Mongerson decided to turn his attention to other avenues, so the prize was discontinued. The winning entries from all five years as well as our survey research and a curriculum guide featuring the winners will continue to be available on our Web site.