Each year, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation awards two distinguished journalism prizes, one for reporting on the Presidency and the other for reporting on National Defense. These prizes, initiated in 1988, recognize reportorial excellence and the fostering of better public understanding of the presidency and national defense. Each year the two prizes are presented to the winners at a reception and event in Washington, D.C. and include a $5,000 award, one for each prize.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation sponsors the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prizes for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency and Distinguished Reporting on National Defense to recognize and encourage thoughtful, insightful, and enterprising work by journalists covering the presidency and national defense. The Foundation is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation whose programs are supported entirely by contributions and bequests in an effort to honor President Ford’s sustained commitment to public service.

Visit Prize Overview for detailed information about this year’s award winners, previous winners and the application or nomination procedure. Click here for the Online Submission Application.

Read Gleaves Whitney’s Announcement Letter for the 37th Annual Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prizes, a competition for distinguished reporting in 2023. Applications for the 37th Annual Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prizes competition must be received by Friday, March 15, 2024.

Past Recipients of the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prizes

Recipients for Reporting in 2022 – Read Press Release
Tyler Pager, The Washington Post – Reporting on the Presidency
Dan Lamothe, The Washington Post – Reporting on Military Affairs
Honorable Mention to the reporting team of Patricia Kime and Rebecca Kheel of Miliatry.com for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense. 

Recipients for Reporting in 2021 – Read Press Release
Matt Viser; The Washington Post – Reporting on the Presidency
Megan Eckstein; Defense News – Reporting on National Defense
Honorable Mention for Reporting on National Defense: Kristin M. Hall, James LaPorta, Justin Pritchard, Jeannie Ohm, Jason Dearen, Justin Myers, Raghu Vadarevu, Natalie Castaneda, Peter Hamlin, Jerry Schwartz, and Serginho Roosblad.

Recipients for Reporting in 2020 – Read Press Release
Jennifer Jacobs; Bloomberg News – Reporting on the Presidency
W.J. Hennigan; TIME Magazine – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2019 – Watch the Virtual Video Announcement
Michael C. Bender; The Wall Street Journal – Reporting on the Presidency
T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose, Robert Faturechi, and Agnes Chang; ProPublica – Reporting on National Defense
Joel Schectman and Christopher Bing; Reuters – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2018
Molly Ball; Time Magazine – Reporting on the Presidency
Jenna McLaughlin and Zach Dorfman; Yahoo! News – Reporting on National Defense
Erika Ritchie; Orange County Register – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2017 (watch the presentations, view photos, and remarks)
Philip Rucker and Ashley Parker; The Washington Post, USA Today – Reporting on the Presidency
Guy Taylor and Dan Boylan; The Washington Times – Honorable Mention, Reporting on the Presidency
J.J. Green; WTOP Radio – Reporting on National Defense
R. Jeffrey Smith, Patrick Malone, Chris Zubak-Skees, and Peter Cary; Center for Public Integrity – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2016 (watch the presentations, view photos, and remarks)
Gregory Korte; USA Today – Reporting on the Presidency
David Martin & Mary Walsh; CBS News – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2015 (watch the presentations and remarks)
Greg Jaffe; The Washington Post – Reporting on the Presidency
Andrew deGrandpre; Military Times – Reporting on National Defense
The team of: Mike Hixenbaugh, The Virginian-Pilot; Cynthia McFadden and Anna Schecter, NBC News; and Jason Paladino, UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2014
Peter Baker; The New York Times – Reporting on the Presidency
Gregory Korte; USA Today – Honorable Mention, Reporting on the Presidency
W.J. Hennigan and Ralph Vartabedian; Los Angeles Times – Reporting on National Defense
Dennis Wagner; The Arizona Republic – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2013
Glenn Thrush; POLITICO – Reporting on the Presidency
Dave Philipps; The Gazette – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2012
John Dickerson; SLATE – Reporting on the Presidency
Josh Gerstein and Carrie Budoff Brown; POLITICO – Honorable Mention, Reporting on the Presidency
Hal Bernton; The Seattle Times – Reporting on National Defense
Andrew Tilghman; Army Times – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2011
Scott Wilson; The Washington Post – Reporting on the Presidency
Corinne Reilly; The Virginia-Pilot – Reporting on National Defense
Sean Naylor; Army Times – Honorable Mention, Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2010
Steven Thomma; The McClatchy Newspapers – Reporting on the Presidency
Shane Harris; The Washingtonian – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2009
Ben Feller; The Associated Press – Reporting on the Presidency
Greg Jaffe; The Washington Post – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2008
Kenneth T. Walsh; U.S. News & World Report – Reporting on the Presidency
James Kitfield; National Journal – Reporting on National Defense

Recipients for Reporting in 2007
Peter Baker; The Washington Post – Reporting on the Presidency
Rick Atkinson; The Washington Post – Reporting on National Defense

Past Recipients
Complete List of Past Recipients

For more information about the annual prize or previous winners contact:
Journalism Contest Coordinator
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
303 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5353
Phone: (616) 254-0393
E-mail: press@38foundation.org
Website: www.geraldrfordfoundation.org
Find Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/geraldrford