YAF’s National Journalism Center Announces 2026 Dao Prize Finalists 

Twenty-two journalists have been named finalists for the 2026 Dao Prize competition.  

Sponsored by the Young America’s Foundation National Journalism Center, Dao Feng and Angela Foundation, Dao Prize submissions are judged according to five criteria: “investigative depth, public interest, fairness and accuracy, style, and impact.”  

The finalists have enlightened the country on a wide range of topics, uncovering impactful news stories. Their investigations exposed fraud, government misconduct, political deception, abuses of power, and other issues that may have otherwise remained hidden from the public.

Dao Prizes are offered for Best Overall Reporting, the Sunlight Award for fraud reporting, Multimedia Reporting, and Best Local Reporting.  

Several finalists were nominated in multiple categories, including Nick Shirley, Luke Rosiak, Frannie Block, and Nick Minock. 

Nick Shirley entered his viral and explosive Minnesota daycare investigation into the Best Overall Reporting and Sunlight Award for fraud reporting sections. Shirley has gained renown as an independent journalist through this investigation and others. Currently, Shirley is continuing his fraud investigations while also producing digital content. 

Exposing fraud also earned Luke Rosiak a place on the finalist list.  

His series “Medicaid Millions” focuses on fraud among Ohio’s Medicaid health programs and garnered the Daily Wire investigative journalist with a nod for Best Overall Reporting as well as the Sunlight Award.  

Frannie Block is also a finalist in the Best Overall Reporting category for her “China vs. God” series. Block’s piece centers on the persecution of Christians in China, investigating the detention of pastor Ezra Jin. Block has worked as a reporter at The Free Press since 2023 and is known for her commentary on education and world affairs. 

Nick Minock’s piece focuses on his investigations into sex-based harassment and unlawful filming of minors at Loudoun County Public School. Minock’s piece “Crisis in the Classroom” is included in the finals for the Best Overall Reporting category. Since 2021, Minock has reported for WJLA in Washington, D.C., and has won four Emmy awards. 

Shirley, Rosiak, Block, and Minock are only a few of the many talented finalists of the Dao Prize competition. Their reporting exposed fraud, led to changes in powerful institutions, and brought important issues to the attention of the American people. Their journalism work has proved to be a great public service to the nation. 

The overall grand prize is $100,000 with two runners-up, both receiving $10,000. The local and multimedia category winners receive $10,000 each while the reporting on fraud prize is $30,000.  

The winners will be announced at the Dao Prize Gala on Nov. 19 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Washington D.C. 

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