Tennessee Press Association and Foundation
Founded in 1870
The Tennessee Press Association and Foundation will award the A-Mark Prize for Freedom of Information (FOI) Reporting starting in 2026. The Prize will reward excellent reporting and investigative journalism across all mediums in the state of Tennessee, including broadcast.
The contest criteria will recognize an investigative story or series by a reporter or team on a single topic related to Freedom of Information or coverage of open meetings and public records. Entries should display original reporting that reveals information that is not generally known, and that government bodies or agencies may not want available for public scrutiny.
Judges will consider depth of research, initiative, obstacles overcome, use of database and public records, use of multiple sources, and impact on public policy. Entries will be required to include a brief letter of explanation from the newsroom’s top editor. Judging will be conducted by a panel of retired newspaper editors from print and broadcast backgrounds as well as journalism professors in Tennessee.