March 16, 2021
2021 Goldsmith Prize Semi-Finalists
In a year of unprecedented and unceasing news cycles, the judges for the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting had a wealth of excellent nominations to review. Out of the 150 reporting projects submitted for consideration, the judging committee selected the following as the top contenders for the prize. It was from this list, originally 30 in total, that the six finalists announced today were chosen. Though the semi-finalists do not receive a cash prize, the judging committee and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Policy recognize and honor the the high caliber of these projects, the hard work that went into them, and the impact they have made on U.S. public policy and politics.
2021 Semi-Finalists for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting
“A Profitable ‘Death Trap'”
Tyler Kingkade, Hannah Rappleye, Kate Snow, and Eric Salzman
NBC News Digital
“Banking Below 30”
David Schechter, Jason Trahan, T. Nicole Waivers, Chance Horner
WFAA-TV and Dallas Weekly
“Deadly Delays”
Jack Dolan, Brittny Mejia, Ryan Menezes, Priya Krishnakumar
Los Angeles Times
“Detroit Homeowners Overtaxed $600 Million”
Mark Betancourt, Christine MacDonald
The Detroit News, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Fund for Investigative Journalism
“‘Domestic Violence Bordering on Torture’: Records Reveal Years of Allegations Against Vallejo Councilmember”
Geoffrey King
Open Vallejo
“Fruits of Labor”
Margie Mason and Robin McDowell
The Associated Press
“Hydroxychloroquine and other money missteps by Utah officials during COVID-19”
Katie McKellar and Art Raymond
Deseret News
“In the Line of Fire: Police maim and blind with “less-lethal” projectiles”
Jay Hancock, Liz Szabo, Kevin McCoy, Donovan Slack, and Dennis Wagner
Kaiser Health News and USA Today Network
“Investigating COVID-19 Outbreaks at Meatpacking Plants”
Sky Chadde, Rachel Axon, Kyle Bagenstose, Kevin Crowe, Erin Mansfield, Frank Hernandez, Doug Caruso, Emily Le Coz, Chris Davis, Pamela Dempsey, and Staffs of the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA TODAY
The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA TODAY
“LIGHTS. CAMERA. VIOLENCE”
Tony Plohetski and Julie Chang
Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV
“Locked in Limbo”
Josh Hinkle, David Barer, Arezow Doost, Robert Sims, Eric Henrikson, and Rachel Garza
KXAN
“Myon Burrell Walks Free”
Robin McDowell, Margie Mason, and Sasha Aslanian
The Associated Press and APM Reports
“Police Violence: Abuses, Excuses“
The Staff of The New York Times
The New York Times
“Racism in the KCFD“
Allison Kite, Glenn E. Rice, Mike Hendricks
The Kansas City Star
“Returned“
Kate Morrissey, Lauryn Schroeder, Nelvin Cepeda, Ruby Gaviola, Michelle Guerrero, Michelle Gilchrist
San Diego Union-Tribune
“Rising Waters”
Tony Bartelme, Chloe Johnson, Stephen Hobbs, Rickey Dennis, M.K. Wildeman, Glenn Smith, and Staff
The Post and Courier and The Pulitzer Center
“Testing the Limits”
Lydia Chavez, Joe Eskenazi, Annika Hom, Julian Mark
Mission Local
“The Cutting“
Rob Davis, Tony Schick, Lylla Younes, Jes Miller, Maya Miller
The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon Public Broadcasting, ProPublica
“The Grumman Plume: Decades of Deceit”
Paul LaRocco, David M. Schwartz
Newsday
“The NYPD Files”
Eric Umansky, Joaquin Sapien, Topher Sanders, Derek Willis, Moiz Syed, Mollie Simon, Josh Kaplan, Lena Groeger, Nate Schweber
ProPublica and THE CITY
“The President’s Taxes”
Russell Buettner, Susanne Craig, Mike McIntire, New York Times Staff
The New York Times
“The Promised Land”
Judy L. Thomas, Laura Bauer
The Kansas City Star
“Torn Apart”
Pat Beall, Michael Braga, Suzanne Hirt, Daphne Chen
USA TODAY Network
“Unheard“
Kyle Hopkins, Adrian Gallardo, Michelle Theriault Boots, Agnes Chang, Nadia Sussman
Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica