Collier Prize Symposium brings journalism’s watchdogs to UF Nov. 13
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications will host the inaugural Collier Prize Symposium on State Government Accountability on Nov. 13, featuring award-winning investigative reporters, media innovators and a keynote conversation with Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation.
The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Rion Ballroom at the Reitz Student Union, and can be attended in person or virtually. Lunch will be provided for those attending on campus.
Registration is required: Register here.
A Day of Dialogue and Discovery
The symposium will feature conversations with the 2025 Collier Prize winners, who will unpack their award-winning investigations and share lessons for students and professionals alike. Speakers include Robin McDowell and Margie Mason of the Associated Press; Mike Hixenbaugh of NBC News; and Grace Hauck of the Illinois Answers Project.
A second panel will spotlight the future of accountability journalism, bringing together Alison Bethel of State Affairs, Chris Fitzsimon of States Newsroom, and Karen Rundlet of the Institute for Nonprofit News. All founded recent years, the three outlets are highly regarded for shaping new nonprofit and commercial models of public-service reporting.
“These organizations are really at the forefront of what the future of this kind of reporting looks like,” said Rick Hirsch, director of the Collier Prize and former managing editor of the Miami Herald.
About the Collier Prize
Established in 2019 and first awarded in 2020, the Collier Prize for State Government Accountability honors outstanding investigative and watchdog reporting focused on state institutions. Funded by Gainesville businessman and UF alumnus Nathan S. Collier, the $25,000 first-place award is presented annually at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and is the largest prize recognizing work centered on state government oversight.
In 2022, Collier committed an $8 million endowment to permanently fund the prize, launch the annual symposium and create a director position to lead its programming. It is the largest endowment in UF’s College of Journalism and Communications history.
The Collier prize helped cement UF’s leadership in accountability journalism.
“There’s a reason the University of Florida is a great place for this all to be growing out of,” Hirsch said. “UF really is a focal point in American journalism for issues around freedom of information through the Brechner Center and research on media trust through the Consortium on Media and Trust. Together with the Collier Prize, these create something of real importance to students and the industry nationally.”