CPA + A-MARK FOUNDATION
A-Mark Prize for Responsive Journalism
Recognizing journalism that listens to communities, responds to their needs and makes a difference.
THREE AWARDS
$15,000
Total prize money awarded to journalists and newsrooms in the 2025 cycle.
2025 entries closed
Winners honored Aug. 29, 2026.
How the prize works →Recognizing impact
Reporting that responds to community needs and contributes to meaningful change.
Open to Colorado journalists
The 2025 prize recognized Colorado-based reporters working for Colorado-based news organizations.
Celebrating innovation
From investigative reporting to data journalism and community engagement.
What makes responsive journalism different?
Presented by Colorado Press Association in partnership with the A-Mark Foundation, the A-Mark Prize for Responsive Journalism recognizes outstanding reporting that addresses needs clearly communicated by a community.
Responsive journalism begins by understanding what people need to know. It can expose wrongdoing, investigate systemic problems, explain complicated issues or provide practical information that helps communities act.
Investigative and enterprise reporting
Deep reporting that uncovers important issues and holds institutions accountable.
Community engagement
Journalism shaped by listening to and responding to community concerns.
Data, visual and innovative storytelling
Reporting that uses evidence, formats and new approaches to make complex issues understandable.
Evaluation criteria
Entries were evaluated for excellence in four areas. A winning submission did not need to demonstrate every element.
Quality of Journalism
Well-researched, thorough work grounded in accuracy, fairness and accountability.
Quality of Presentation
Clear, compelling storytelling and effective use of written, audio, video or multimedia formats.
Responsiveness to Community
Addresses needs identified through community input, engagement or active listening.
Impact
Demonstrated or potential impact on public understanding, dialogue, policy or positive change.
2025 REPORTING CYCLE
Prize money
$15,000 in total prize money
First place
$5,000
for journalist(s)
+ $2,500
for newsroom(s)
Second place
$3,000
for journalist(s)
+ $1,500
for newsroom(s)
Third place
$2,000
for journalist(s)
+ $1,000
for newsroom(s)
Winners for reporting published in 2025 were honored Aug. 29, 2026.
Awards were divided between the winning journalists and their newsrooms. Prizes involving multiple journalists or newsrooms were shared among the recipients.
2025 CYCLE · CLOSED
2025 eligibility and entry rules
Eligible work: produced during calendar year 2025.
Entrants: Colorado-based reporters for Colorado-based news organizations. Any medium or combination of media is eligible.
Entry fee: $25 per entry.
Submissions closed July 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
Eligible reporting: Reporting must be produced by Colorado-based reporter(s) for Colorado-based news organization(s). Any medium or combination of media is eligible. Standalone pieces and series are eligible. Up to five elements may be submitted per entry. Individual reporters or editors may submit entries.
Community needs: Community needs should be identified through engagement or outreach such as listening sessions, town halls, crowdsourcing, open newsrooms, advisory boards, community partnerships, social media conversations or other mechanisms. These may be formal or informal mechanisms, but the link to clearly communicated community needs must be established.
Submission details: The contest form asks for a single work, which may be any eligible reporting project, including a series. Elements must be PDFs or digital media. Text in web pages should be submitted as PDFs.
Prize distribution: Winning submissions with multiple journalists or newsrooms will split the relevant prizes.
2025 A-Mark Prize Winners
These three projects show how Colorado journalists are investigating important issues, holding institutions accountable and helping communities understand the challenges they face.
FIRST PLACE · 2025 A-MARK PRIZE
At Risk
9NEWS (KUSA-TV)
Chris Vanderveen, Chris Hansen and Aaron Adelson
Explore the reporting ↗SECOND PLACE · 2025 A-MARK PRIZE
Yadira Caraveo’s former aides say they were mistreated, traumatized
The Colorado Sun
Jesse Paul
Explore the reporting ↗THIRD PLACE · 2025 A-MARK PRIZE
At a crossroads: Downtown Denver is waiting for its rebound
The Denver Post
Aldo Svaldi, Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Judith Kohler, Kevin Hamm and Donovan Henderson
Explore the reporting ↗2025 honorable mentions
Decode: Water
PBS12
Alan Domínguez and Raúl Paz Pastrana
The Opportunity Caucus
The Colorado Sun
Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul
Exposé of DA’s Office coverup
Wet Mountain Tribune
Jordan Hedberg
To Serve and Collect
9NEWS (KUSA)
Steve Staeger and Anna Hewson
The $tadium Game
The Denver Post
Parker Gabriel, Noelle Phillips, Sean Keeler, Bennett Durando, Patrick Saunders and Kyle Newman
Refuge
9NEWS (KUSA)
Chris Vanderveen and Chris Hansen
Previous winners: 2024 reporting cycle
FIRST PLACE · 2024 A-MARK PRIZE
Series on municipal courts in Pueblo and around the state
The Denver Post
Sam Tabachnik and Shelly Bradbury
Explore the reporting ↗SECOND PLACE · 2024 A-MARK PRIZE
Series on the process of selling St. Benedict's Monastery
Aspen Public Radio and Aspen Journalism
Kaya Williams and Laurine Lasalle
Explore the reporting ↗THIRD PLACE · 2024 A-MARK PRIZE
Diagnosis: Debt Colorado
COLab, KFF Health News, 9News, The Colorado Sun and Colorado Newsline
Noam Levey, John Ingold, Chris Vanderveen, Sara Wilson, Rae Ellen Bichell and Lindsey Toomer
Explore the reporting ↗About the A-Mark Foundation
The A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan nonprofit that supports journalism and investigative reporting through grants to organizations that recognize journalistic excellence.
Have a question about the A-Mark Prize? Contact CPA at membership@colopress.net.