Prize Overview
In Honor of Neal Conan
The Neal Conan Prize for Excellence in Journalism honors mid-career journalists who embody Neal's belief that fairness, curiosity, and humanity matter most. Established in 2023 by friends of Neal Conan, the American radio journalist who spent nearly four decades at NPR, the prize invests not in a lifetime of past work but in the work still to come.
An Annual Prize Award
Each year, the prize awards $50,000 in unrestricted support — no reporting requirements, no prescribed use — to a journalist whose work reflects Neal's commitment to excellence: rigor in verification, nuanced understanding of complex issues, courage in covering difficult subjects, and a deep belief in journalism as public service.
How the Winner is Chosen
The recipient is selected by an Advisory Committee of peers and practitioners who share a deep connection to Neal's legacy and extensive experience in journalism. Working across print, online, radio, and broadcast, the committee sources nominees from every region of the world and evaluates each based on exemplary work — looking for rigor, courage, and integrity rather than institutional affiliation.
In Honor of Neal Conan
Neal J. Conan
was a significant contributor to the creation of the United States’ public radio system, serving as a radio journalist, producer, correspondent, and program host at National Public Radio (NPR) for nearly four decades. During Neal’s long tenure at NPR, he was a senior host of “Talk of the Nation,” a producer of “All Things Considered,” a bureau chief in New York and London, and he also worked at the NPR headquarters as an executive producer, foreign editor, correspondent, managing editor, and news director.
2025 Prize Winner
Mohammed Mhawish
Palestinian journalist and writer Mohammed Mhawish reports with courage and humanity under extraordinary conditions. A contributing writer for The Nation and The New Yorker, his work has appeared in Al Jazeera, +972 Magazine, The Economist, and MSNBC. After a targeted attack on his home killed members of his family, he fled Gaza and continues to report in exile — documenting overlooked realities and honoring colleagues lost to war. Recent honors include the Izzy Award, an Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association Award, and a Type Media Center Fellowship (2025).
“Go and tell me the stories behind everything that happened in the world today. Explain why it happened, and how it affects our lives. Do it every day. Tell me what's important, and don't waste my time with stupid stuff..”
― Neal Conan
(on his final NPR sign off)