Collier Prize Rules

Criteria

The Collier Prize for State Government Accountability recognizes the best U.S. professional reporting on state government accountability in any medium or on any platform. Entries will be judged on how well they reflect excellence in accountability coverage of state government, with special attention paid to overcoming particular challenges or difficulties in reporting or publishing, and any significant impact from the reporting.

Eligibility

For the 2025 prize, entries must have been broadcast or published between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. The deadline for accepting nominations will be 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Jan. 31, 2025.

The 2025 prize will consist of one $25,000 winner, one $5,000 winner, and one $2,500 winner. Prize money is paid to the news organization that published the winning/nominated entries.

There are not separate sub-divisions for market size or circulation.

Entries must be fact-based reporting, not commentary or analysis. Books will not be considered for this prize. Freelance journalists who produce work in print, broadcast or online can enter the competition if their submitted work has been published or broadcast by eligible news sites during the calendar year. If questions arise, judges will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. At the judges’ discretion, the decision may be made to give no award.

Each nomination costs $50, to be paid by credit card as a non-refundable entry fee. Each news organization may enter as many as three nominations each year. Partnership projects submitted by participating organizations will count toward the three-entry limit.

Submitting an entry explicitly gives the University of Florida rights to republish the work on the prize’s website administered by UF.

How to Apply

Each submission should include a cover letter summarizing the entry and describing the reporting that was required, noting any special challenges and describing any actual or potential impact of the investigative reporting.

Eligible entries include a single piece of content, or a series or body of work of up to five parts. Please combine all installments into a single printer-friendly PDF. Also include links to the content online, including links to any relevant video or audio only.

Supporting or supplemental material should be kept to a minimum, as there is no assurance judges will review it.

Any corrections or clarifications to the reporting after its broadcast or publication must be identified and explained.

Applications must be submitted online. Paper entries will not be accepted. Entries must be completed, including payment information, at the time of entry. Entries can’t be edited or paid for after they are submitted.

Applicants are responsible for making sure that online links are accessible outside their organization. If  content is behind a paywall, applicants must ensure judges can view it by providing a login or creating private links. Links must remain active and accessible until after the winners are publicly announced.

For more information, contact collierprize@jou.ufl.edu.