#USA #Washington, D.C. #Investigative Journalism #Dao Prize #The Federalist

YAF Unveils 2025 Dao Prize Winners Celebrating Investigative Journalism Excellence

YAF’s National Journalism Center Announces 2025 Dao Prize Winners

On November 20, 2025, the National Journalism Center, a project of Young America’s Foundation (YAF), proudly revealed the winners of the prestigious Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. This year’s awards celebrated exemplary reporting that not only sheds light on critical issues but also exemplifies the principles of truth-seeking and integrity in journalism.

First Place Winner: The Federalist

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly The Federalist, which took home the first place award, along with a cash prize of $100,000. Their investigation into the so-called Russia collusion hoax stood out for its thoroughness and depth. The team’s reporting illuminated how various segments of the intelligence community, government entities, and the media conspired to fabricate narratives that undermined then-President Trump.

Spencer Brown, the Chief Communications Officer of YAF, remarked, "The Federalist's superb reporting on the Russia collusion hoax epitomized everything we look for in a Dao Prize winner. In its relentless pursuit of the truth, the team helped expose widespread corruption at the highest levels of power, politics, and news. We are honored to recognize their efforts and support more groundbreaking investigative reporting."

Notable Runner-Ups

In addition to The Federalist, several other journalists were celebrated for their outstanding contributions:

- Ashley Rindsberg from Pirate Wires secured the runner-up position for his series titled The Ideological Capture of Wikipedia, receiving a prize of $10,000.
- Katelynn Richardson and Megan Brock, representing The Daily Caller News Foundation, were also runners-up for their revealing series on gender ideology within the Biden Administration, also earning $10,000.