Call for Entries: The Dao Prize (United States)

The Dao Prize, funded by the Daofeng and Angela Foundation and launched in conjunction with Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center (NJC). Dao Prize-winning journalism stands out for accuracy and courage.

In 2023, the Daofeng and Angela Foundation (DAF) partnered with YAF’s prestigious National Journalism Center to honor truth-seeking journalists. As trust in media hovers near record lows, DAF and NJC believe it is essential to celebrate reporters advancing the public interest through robust investigative work. Too often, the media establishment celebrates work that protects power rather than challenging it. The Dao Prize will honor truth above all else.

Daofeng and Angela He started their charitable foundation with a passion for freedom. As immigrants from China, Daofeng and Angela know firsthand the importance of a free press and hope to revive the American media’s spirit of curiosity, skepticism and vigor. Mr. He observed that in the United States, investigative journalists face increasing constraints around political correctness, and because of this, are discouraged from tackling certain investigations and reporting the truth. This caused him to think of a way in which a group could come alongside his foundation to award the bravery so needed in today’s journalism landscape.

Mr. He is passionate about this prize, and firmly believes that for America to preserve her founding principles and hold elected officials accountable, courageous journalists are essential.

Prize Information

• The annual winner will receive a $100,000 prize, divided among team members per the terms to which they agreed upon submitting their application. Two submissions will win $10,000 each as runners-up, one will win $10,000 in the local category, and one will win $10,000 in the multimedia category, which includes podcasts, video, radio, and formats up to the applicant’s discretion.

How It Works?

• The second annual Dao Prize will be awarded on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. It is available to all American media outlets. Journalists and publications are welcome to submit as many applications for consideration as they like. The full rules for entry are located on the application.
• All applications must be signed and approved by an applicant’s editor-in-chief. All mediums will be considered, including print, broadcast, podcast, Substack, etc.
• The Dao Prize will be judged by NJC’s independent board, which will cast secret ballots after a round of debate and discussion.

Eligibility Criteria

• Each outlet and journalist may submit an unlimited number of stories or pre-defined series published from Sept. 1, 2023 through Sept. 2, 2024. Applications are limited to one pre-defined story or series, but there is no limit to the number of applications an outlet or journalist can submit. Each application can also be submitted in the local and multimedia categories. All U.S.-based news publications are welcome to participate. This includes Substack pages, YouTube channels, and podcasts.

For more information, visit Young America’s Foundation.