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. 

The Collier Prize

The entry portal for the 2026 Collier Prize is open until midnight, Jan. 31, 2026

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

Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth headlined our Nov. 13, 2025 Symposium. You can watch the sessions on demand.

State of Accountability Journalism Report

A survey of investigative journalists who routinely report on government accountability showed that limited access to records or sources has emerged as the greatest challenge in holding government officials accountable. Most reported frequent delays, denials, or excessive costs when filing public records requests, and nearly half described difficulty securing interviews or official comment.