The $25,000 Collier Prize for State Government Accountability at the University of Florida is one of the largest journalism prizes in the nation. It is designed to encourage coverage of state-level government in every state, focusing on investigative and political reporting. The prize, announced annually at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner,  recognizes the best U. S. professional reporting on state government accountability in any medium or on any platform and is available to any news organization.

Since it began in 2019, the Collier Prize has expanded beyond the annual competition. Today, it includes a Symposium each November featuring thought leaders and excellence in investigative reporting, a quarterly recognition program called the Collier Spotlight, an annual survey of reporters and editors and a monthly newsletter on accountability reporting trends, tools and readings to help reporters and editors tackle ambitious stories. 

2026 Winners

KARE 11 of Minneapolis for “Housing Hustle,” its investigation of Medicare fraud in Minnesota.

CalMatters won second prize for “License to Kill,’’ an investigation of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

The joint Capital bureau of the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald won third prize for “Hope Florida,” a series of stories that exposed how the administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis orchestrated the transfer of $10 of public money to one of the pet projects of first lady Casey DeSantis – the Hope Florida Foundation.

Annual Collier Accountability Survey

This report is based on a national annual survey of reporters and editors to gauge the challenges working journalists face and their attitudes toward their work.

The Collier Spotlight

The Spotlight is a quarterly certificate that recognizes impactful reporting on state institutions. Work can be submitted free, by any individual or news organization. The recognition includes a $500 honorarium. Submission deadlines are Dec. 1, March 1, June 1 and Sept. 1.

Collier Prize Symposium

The 2026 Collier Prize Symposium will be held on November 18. You can watch the 2025 event, featuring a keynote address from Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, on demand.