The Dao Prize

The Dao Prize, funded by the Dao Feng and Angela Foundation and launched in conjunction with Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center (NJC), is an annual award founded to recognize excellence in investigative journalism. Dao Prize-winning journalism stands out for accuracy and courage. The Dao Prize will award courageous journalists and give them the recognition often ignored by other organizations and media outlets.

About The Dao Prize

Recognizing excellence in investigative journalism

In 2023, the Dao Feng and Angela Foundation (DAF) partnered with YAF’s prestigious National Journalism Center to honor truth-seeking journalists. As trust in media hovers near record lows, DAF and NJC believe it is essential to celebrate reporters advancing the public interest through robust investigative work. Too often, the media establishment celebrates work that protects power rather than challenging it. The Dao Prize will honor truth above all else.

The Dao Feng and Angela Foundation started their charitable foundation with a passion for freedom. As immigrants from China, Dao Feng He and Angela He know firsthand the importance of a free press and hope to revive the American media’s spirit of curiosity, skepticism and vigor. Mr. He observed that in the United States, investigative journalists face increasing constraints around political correctness, and because of this, are discouraged from tackling certain investigations and reporting the truth. This caused him to think of a way in which a group could come alongside his foundation to award the bravery so needed in today’s journalism landscape.

Mr. He is passionate about this prize, and firmly believes that for America to preserve her founding principles and hold elected officials accountable, courageous journalists are essential.

Applicant Information

How It Works

The second annual Dao Prize will be awarded on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. It is available to all American media outlets. Journalists and publications are welcome to submit as many applications for consideration as they like. The full rules for entry are located on the application.

All applications must be signed and approved by an applicant’s editor-in-chief. All mediums will be considered, including print, broadcast, podcast, Substack, etc. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 2. 

The Deadline for submissions is September 2 for the Dao Prize.

The Dao Prize will be judged by an independent board (or panel), which will cast secret ballots after a round of debate and discussion.

Winners will then be announced at a celebratory dinner held in Washington, D.C. The first-prize winners will be awarded $100,000, two finalists will receive $10,000 each, and two new $10,000 awards for multimedia and local journalism will be awarded as well. 
Apply Today!

Applications are due September 2, 2024.