The Goldsmith Prize at
Harvard University Kennedy School of Government
The Goldsmith Awards Program was launched in 1991 by (then) Goldsmith-Greenfield Foundation and the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. The prize was inspired by Berda Marks Goldsmith who was described by Greenfield as being “in favor of supporting people and programs that might improve the quality of government.” Bob set up the program at Harvard with the hope that this goal would be accomplished. Two awards were presented in that first year: a $25,000 prize for Investigative Journalism and a $5,000 Book Prize. In 2025 a $15,000 Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting was added.
The 2026 Goldsmith Prize was awarded to
Hannah Dreier and the staff of the New York Times, shown above with 2026 Goldsmith Career Award Winner, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic.Watch 'How they did it with Hannah Dreier.'
The Goldsmith Prize
for Investigative Reporting
The Prize goes to a piece of work that promotes more effective and ethical conduct of government, the making of public policy or the practice of politics. The winner receives $25,000 and five finalists each receive $10,000. Submissions must come from U.S. news media and must have been published in the calendar year prior to submission. The 2026 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting went to Hannah Dreier and the New York Times for their series "Exposed and Expendable."
The Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism
Learn more about the Goldsmith Prize
The Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism is given annually to a professional in the field whose work has enriched our political discourse and our society. Some of the more well-known names include Ted Turner, Nicholas Kristof, Andrea Mitchell, Nina Totenberg, Anderson Cooper (pictured with Doris Kearns Goodwin at the 2025 Awards), and Jeffrey Goldberg.
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The Goldsmith Book Prize
Watch the 2026 Goldsmith Awards Ceremony
The Goldsmith Book Prize is awarded to the author of a book that attempts to improve the quality of government or politics. Since 2022, there have been 2 prizes given for books: one for a trade book and the other for an academic book. The 2026 winner of the Goldsmith Book Prize was Carla Kaplan, receiving the award for trade book "Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford." The prize for the academic book was given to Eunji Kim for "American Mirage:How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy."
The Goldsmith Prize
for Explanatory Reporting
(new in 2025)
The newest addition, The Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting, was added to the Program in 2025. This $15,000 prize recognizes work that spotlights journalism that highlights a government or public policy program or problem as well as describing how it can be solved. The 2026 prize was given to the authors of 'Power Struggle:What Stalled the Northwest's Push for Green Energy?' Monica Samayoa and Tony Schick, Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica (shown, right).
All photos courtesy of Martha Stewart
Shown above: Monica Samoyoa and Tony Schick from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in collaboration with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network.