Mississippi Today’s investigation into Gov. Tate Reeves’ campaign donors who later received state contracts was named a finalist for the 2024 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting.

The investigation revealed that some of Reeves’ top political donors received at least $1.4 billion in state contracts from agencies he oversees. The newsroom also released the first publicly available, searchable database of Reeves’ campaign donations since he began his political career in 2003.

Mississippi Today’s Julia James led the newsroom’s data collection and presentation for the investigation, while Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison, Taylor Vance and Adam Ganucheau contributed reporting.

READ MORE: Gov. Tate Reeves’ top political donors received $1.4 billion in state contracts from his agencies

The Toner Prizes, awarded annually by Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, “recognize and reinforce quality, fact-based political reporting — work that illuminates the electoral process, reveals the politics of policy and engages the public in democracy,” according to the prize website. The prizes were established to honor Robin Toner, the first woman to serve as national political correspondent for The New York Times.

Other finalists for this year’s local journalism prize are The Texas Tribune, Miami Herald, WBEZ Chicago and Chicago Sun-Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, THE CITY, and The Coronado News. 

The winner will be announced at a March 25 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

READ MORE: How we reported our investigation into state contracts awarded to Gov. Tate Reeves’ top donors

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