The Selden Ring Award

Why It Matters

The award drives accountability by rewarding journalism that produces real-world change, bolstering democratic resilience and encouraging newsrooms to pursue costly investigations.

Key Takeaways

• Selden Ring created award to honor impactful investigative journalism.
• Award emphasizes stories that produce tangible legislative, legal, or community change.
• Judges assess depth, persistence, and truth‑seeking in reporting.
• New data, AI, and multimedia tools reshape investigative storytelling.
• Investigative journalism remains vital for democracy despite funding challenges.

Summary

The video outlines the origins and purpose of the Selden Ring Award, founded after Watergate by businessman Selden Ring to reward distinguished investigative reporting that safeguards American democracy.

The award criteria focus on impact—legislation, lawsuits, community empowerment—and on rigorous, persistent reporting. Judges convene to debate dozens of entries, seeking stories that “dug and dug” until answers emerged.

Notable remarks highlight that modern investigative work now leverages data analytics, AI, and multimedia, yet remains rooted in fearless truth‑telling. Ring’s mantra—“comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable”—underscores the award’s ethos.

By spotlighting high‑impact journalism, the Selden Ring Award incentivizes newsroom investment in deep‑dive reporting, reinforcing the press’s role as a democratic watchdog amid financial pressures.

Original Description

Now more than ever, rigorous, ethical and technically skilled journalists are needed to hold those in power accountable and tell stories that matter.

The impact of their work strengthens our democratic society — and demonstrates the value of accountability for governments, non-government organizations and private corporations.

Since 1989, the Ring Foundation has partnered with the USC Annenberg School of Journalism to present the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting. The $50,000 annual award — the largest journalism prize in America — was established with the support of Southern California businessman and philanthropist Selden Ring. It highlights the impact investigative journalists have on local, national and global communities.