The Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize
Overview
Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting
Each year, contest judges select one piece of coverage from among the first prize winners as the recipient of EWA’s top prize, the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting. Named for the late New York Times education editor Fred M. Hechinger, the award includes a cash prize of $10,000.
View the list of previous Hechinger Grand Prize winners.
Racism at VMI
The Washington Post’s Ian Shapira shares backstory to his prize-winning investigation of racist policies and practices at Virginia Military Institute
(EWA Radio Episode 270)
The impact of reporter Ian Shapira’s deep dive into the troubled culture at the nation’s oldest state-support military college was seismic: within days, the Virginia Military Institute’s leader had resigned, and Gov. Ralph Northam pledged an independent investigation.
EWA Announces the 2020 Winner of the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting
EWA Announces Winners of the 2020 National Awards for Education Reporting
April 13, 2021 (WASHINGTON, DC)—The Education Writers Association is delighted to announce the category winners and finalists for the 2020 National Awards for Education Reporting, recognizing the top education journalism in the United States.
2020 Awards Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about the Education Writers Association journalism contest
Most common questions about the awards are listed here.
2020 Award Categories
The Education Writers Association’s 2020 National Awards for Education Reporting competition consists of seven categories. In addition, EWA welcomes entries for the Eddie Prize.
Entrants should review all categories before entering their submissions.
EWA Announces 2019 Winners of Top Education Reporting Prizes
2019 Finalists for Reporting Awards
EWA is pleased to announce this year’s finalists for the 2019 EWA National Awards for Education Reporting, as well as the Edwin Gould Foundation’s Eddie Prize.
2019 Award Categories
The Education Writers Association’s 2019 National Awards for Education Reporting competition consists of seven categories. In addition, EWA welcomes entries for the Eddie Prize.
Entrants should review all categories before entering their submissions. The most notable change since 2018 is the creation of a separate category for investigative journalism.
2019 Awards Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about the Education Writers Association journalism contest
Most common questions about the awards are listed here.
EWA Announces 2018 Winners of Top 3 Education Reporting Prizes
The Education Writers Association is delighted to honor Hannah Dreier with the top prize in the 2018 National Awards for Education Reporting.
Casualties of a Crackdown: MS-13 on Long Island
Feature (Large Staff)
Entry Credit
About the Entry
In a pair of feature stories, reporter Hannah Dreier explores how two teenagers from Central America were swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown on violent U.S. gangs.
A Betrayal
2018 Finalists for Reporting Awards
EWA is pleased to announce this year’s finalists for the 2018 EWA National Awards for Education Reporting, as well as the Edwin Gould Foundation’s Eddie Prize.
Call for Education Journalism Awards Entries
National Awards for Education Reporting offer $10,000 top prize
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce the launch of the 2018 National Awards for Education Reporting. Journalists may submit entries from 9 a.m. EST Nov. 15 through midnight PST Dec. 15, 2018.
Professional journalists who have published work in 2018 on any educational topic in any medium are encouraged to enter the contest, which features a total of 19 prizes with cash awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
EWA Announces 2017 Winners of Top 3 Education Reporting Prizes
The Education Writers Association is delighted to honor “Children and Gun Violence,” a feature series from The Washington Post, with the top prize in the 2017 National Awards for Education Reporting. This year’s Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting will go to the reporter behind the series — John Woodrow Cox.
Bonus Episode: Revisiting Brian Rosenthal’s Award-Winning Piece
EWA Radio: Episode 124
2016 National Winners for the Hechinger, Moskowitz, Eddie Awards in Education Reporting
The Education Writers Association is delighted to honor “Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children Out of Special Education,” an investigative series from the Houston Chronicle, with the top prize in the 2016 National Awards for Education Reporting. This year’s Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting will go to the reporter behind the series – Brian Rosenthal.
EWA Announces Winners of Top Education Reporting Prizes
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce that “Failure Factories,” an investigative series from the Tampa Bay Times, has won the top prize in the National Awards for Education Reporting. This year’s Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting will go to three writers of the series – Cara Fitzpatrick, Lisa Gartner and Michael LaForgia.
Hannah-Jones of ProPublica Receives the 2014 Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting
Highest Honor in Education Journalism
APRIL 20, 2015 (CHICAGO)—A ProPublica package of stories about the lingering effects of segregation in American schools by Nikole Hannah-Jones has been awarded the top prize in the Education Writers Association’s 2014 National Awards for Education Reporting.
Recipients of the EWA Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting.
1972–2019
John Matthews, Washington Star (1972)
William Grant, Detroit Free Press (1973)
James Nolan and Linda Stahl, Louisville Courier-Journal (1974)
Jonathan Neumann, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, Mass. (1975)
James Worsham and Marguerite Del Guidice, Boston Globe (1976)
Lou Antosh, Philadelphia Bulletin (1977)
Stanley Moulton and Laurel Sorenson, Daily Hampshire Gazette (1978)