The Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting was established in 2009 to celebrate the life and work of Robin Toner, the late New York Times political correspondent. It is awarded by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications of Syracuse University.
The program includes the annual Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting and Toner Prize Celebration. The award, which includes $5,000, is presented at an annual ceremony that features a distinguished speaker. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama delivered the keynote address.
Entries are judged on how well they reflect the high standards and depth of reporting that marked Toner's work. In particular, the judges look for how well the entries:
illuminate the electoral process or reveal the politics of policy and engage the public in democracy.
Entries must be fact-based reporting, not commentary. Single articles, series or a body of work are eligible. Books are ineligible.
Toner Prize recipients +YearRecipientNews Organization(s)Description of Entry2011Craig HarrisArizona Republicfor an 8-part series on Arizona's broken and expensive public pension plan.2012Jane MayerThe New Yorkerfor an in-depth look, titled State for Sale, at the effects on North Carolina of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.2013Molly BallThe Atlanticfor her in-depth reporting on the 2012 election.2014Karen TumultyThe Washington Postfor her reporting on politicians, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as well as her in-depth look at the political landscape in West Virginia.2015Dan BalzThe Washington Postfor a series of political profiles that illuminated the partisan divide in Washington.2016Alec MacGillisProPublicafor a collection of stories on issues in politics and governance.2017David FahrentholdThe Washington Postfor “A Portrait of Donald Trump,” a series of articles highlighting his yearlong reporting on Trump.2018Team from The Washington PostThe Washington Postfor its coverage of candidate Roy Moore and the 2017 Alabama Senate race, which uncovered a pattern of sexual misconduct by Moore.2019Jason ZengerleThe New York Times Magazine,GQfor his reporting on the effects of Trump presidency on the House Intelligence Committee.2020Team from The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globefor the 2019 Back to the Battleground series in which the eight-member team of Globe reporters covered four key battleground states that helped decide the 2016 presidential election.2021David A. GrahamThe Atlanticfor coverage of the 2020 presidential election, focusing particularly on undecided voters in swing states and election integrity.2022(National) Team from The Washington Post(Local) David Wickert, Mark Niesse, Greg Bluestein, Maya T. Prabhu, Tia Mitchell, Isaac Sabetai and Jim Galloway.The Washington PostThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionfor "The Attack", an investigation into what happened before, during and after the 2021 United States Capitol attack.for "Inside the Campaign to Undermine Georgia’s Election"2023(National) Josh Gerstein, Alex Ward, Peter Canellos, Hailey Fuchs, Heidi Przybyla, Elena Schneider and Holly Otterbein(Local) Phil WilliamsPoliticoWTVF Nashvillefor "The Supreme Court and Abortion", reporting that leaked the draft of U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.for "Revealed” investigation; efforts to look into how laws are made in the supermajority ruled Tennessee General Assembly.2024(National) Greg Jaffe and Patrick Marley(Local) Anna Orso, Sean Walsh, Julia Terruso, Aseem Shukla and Layla JonesThe Washington Post Philadelphia Inquirer"Ottawa County""The race for Philadelphia’s 100th mayor"2025(National) Reporters: Peter Eisler, Ned Parker, Aram Roston and Joseph Tanfani(Local) Spencer Kent and Riley YatesReutersNJ Advance Media"The Politics of Menace""Project Extreme"
Toner Prize Celebration speakers +YearFormatSpeaker(s)2009PanelGwen Ifill (PBS), Richard Berke (The New York Times), Dan Balz (The Washington Post), Jackie Calmes (The New York Times), Beth Frerking (Politico), and Adam Nagourney (The New York Times)2011ConversationMarilyn Werber Serafini (Kaiser Health News)2012PanelJane Mayer (The New Yorker), Peggy Simpson (Women’s Media Center), Lynette Clemetson (NPR), and Kristin Carlson (WCAX-TV)2013KeynoteKathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services2014KeynoteJoe Biden, Vice President of the United States2015KeynoteHillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State2016KeynoteBarack Obama, President of the United States2017KeynoteJohn Kasich, Governor of Ohio2018KeynoteMark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia2019KeynoteLarry Hogan, Governor of Maryland2020 - No ceremony due to COVID-19 pandemic2021KeynoteCory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey2022KeynoteNancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives2023KeynoteMitt Romney, U.S. Senator from Utah2024KeynoteRoy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina2025ConversationMaribel Perez Wadsworth & Boris Sanchez
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