Toner Prizes

The Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting recognize the best U.S. national or local political reporting in any medium or on any platform—print, broadcast or online.

The entry period for the 2021 Toner Prizes competition is now closed. Winners will be announced this spring.

Two prizes—the Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting and the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting—are awarded annually by the Newhouse School. Each includes a $5,000 honorarium.

Entries are judged on how well they reflect the high standards and depth of reporting that marked Robin Toner’s work. Judges look for how well the entries:

illuminate the electoral process, with a special focus on coverage of candidates, campaigns or elections, or
reveal the politics of policy and
engage the public in democracy.

Entries must be fact-based reporting, not commentary. Single articles, series or a body of work are eligible. Books are ineligible.

The submission period runs from Dec. 1 to mid-January. Winners are announced in March in Washington, D.C., at the gala Toner Celebration.

For more information, contact Charlotte Grimes at cgrimes@syr.edu.