World & Geopolitics
Talmyn Pick: ProPublica’s “On the Hook” for Best Investigative Story
An editorial spotlight on the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into Connecticut's towing industry, which led to real consumer protections after publication.
Best Investigative Story
An ongoing list of investigative and data-driven journalism worth wider attention — independent or staff, big outlet or small.
What this offers
Real amplification
A feature and link back to your original reporting, sent to our full readership.
Outlet-agnostic
Independent newsletters and small local outlets are read the same way as major mastheads.
No cost to nominate
Free, whether nominating your own work or someone else's.
A credibility check, not a rewrite
We link to and credit the original reporting rather than re-reporting it as our own.
Who this is for
Journalists and outlets — independent or established — behind a specific piece of investigative or data-driven reporting published this year.
How it works
- Nominate a story. A link to the piece and why it stands out.
- An editor reads it. We check the reporting rigor and impact.
- Strong nominees are featured. Added to the current list with a link to the original.
- You're notified when it's live. If you submitted the nomination.
Rules & eligibility
- This is free to enter, and always will be — we never charge a submission fee.
- No age, location, industry, or follower-count requirement. Selection is about the work itself, not who you are.
- Submitting doesn't guarantee publication or a reply beyond the automatic confirmation — we get more submissions than we can feature, and we'd rather say that upfront than overpromise.
- One submission per person or company at a time. If it isn't selected, you're welcome to submit again later with something new.
- Selection is editorial, not a queue — we're not obligated to publish every submission, and we won't pad the list with entries that aren't ready.
How do I actually apply?
I link directly to the published story and explain what made the reporting itself hard or unusual — the access required, the records obtained, the verification work — not just that the topic was important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to Best Investigative Story, and free to be featured if selected. We don't charge for consideration, and we never will.
How long does it take to hear back?
If your submission is selected, you'll hear from an editor directly. If it isn't, we don't send a rejection notice — the volume we receive makes that impractical.
Can I submit on behalf of someone else?
Only with their knowledge and involvement — we want the real details, and that usually means hearing from the person or team directly.
What happens if I'm not selected?
Nothing gets published without being selected first. Unselected submissions simply aren't used, and you're welcome to submit again later.
Does this run every year?
Yes — Best Investigative Story is evergreen. It runs all year, every year, with no deadline to catch.
Selection is editorial and unpaid on both sides — no one is charged to submit, and no one is paid for work we publish. Talmyn's editorial standards apply the same way here as everywhere else on the site.
Submit
The current list