Moody College of Communication

Dan Rather Medals for News and GutsJournalism and Media logo

Dan Rather Medals for News and Guts

Awards

Dan Rather Medals for Excellence in News and Guts

Professional

$5,000 Award

See Details

To be given to a journalist, team of journalists or a news organization producing an exceptional journalistic story or series in spite of facing demonstrable threats and hurdles – exhibiting news and guts.

Examples include overcoming:

  • Government resistance to the release of public records
  • Financial threats to coverage
  • Online harassment

Student Media

$5,000 Award

See Details

To be given to a college journalist, a team of college journalists or college news organization producing an exceptional journalistic story or series whose execution required an exceptional reporting effort.

The journalists produced the story in spite of:

  • University or government resistance
  • Financial threats to coverage
  • University threats to coverage
  • Online harassment

2026 Professional Award Judges

Barbara Allen
Director of College Programming, Poynter
Kathleen McElroy, Ph.D.
Director, School of Journalism and Media, University of Texas at Austin
Ross Ramsey
Senior adviser to Eller Group and co-founder of the Texas Tribune
John Bridges
Former editor of the Austin American-Statesman and journalism lecturer at University of Texas at Austin.

2026 Student Media Award Judges

Jamie Stockwell
Executive editor of USA Today
Rosa Flores
MSNOW Correspondent
Courtney Norris
Producer, “PBS NewsHour”
Tony Plohetski
Austin American-Statesman/KVUE-TV
Inaugural Dan Rather Medal Winner

Medals Timeline

Rather, the School of Journalism and Media, and the Moody College of Communication believe now is an especially appropriate time to highlight the work of journalists facing threats for trying to fulfill their vital role in American democracy. The medals are designed to complement rather than compete against other journalism awards.

Nominations Accepted

January 1 - January 31

Judging

February 1 – February 28

Winners and Finalists Announced

April 13

Dan Rather on CBS news assignment.

Robert McNeely Photographic Archive,

Briscoe Center for American History.