The WERT Global Prize

The WERT Global Prize honors excellence in business journalism by a woman for work that fosters a greater understanding of global business. It was established in 2018 with funding by a bequest from The Women’s Economic Round Table (WERT) and has received support from the Muriel F. Siebert Foundation and the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

The recipient of the prize receives $2,000. 

Submissions for the 2025 WERT Global Prize are now open. 

Materials Needed to Enter

  • One to five pieces of business reporting in English published or broadcast by a recognized media outlet (print, audio, video, digital).
  • Transcripts of audio/video submissions.
  • A brief cover letter with a short nominee bio.
  • A $50 non-refundable entry fee. Fees can be paid at Columbia's SecurePay website.

Please Keep in Mind

  • A single story may be submitted. 
  • You may submit up to five stories if they are part of a series.
  • Entries must be in English. International entries are welcome.
  • Self-nominations are accepted.
  • Shared byline stories by women are allowed (the prize will be split).
  • Books, films, podcast series and self-published work are not eligible.
  • Submit as PDFs or links (provide access if behind a paywall).
  • Eligible entries must be published between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

How to Enter

1. Complete an application form. To begin, please visit our submission site and create an account (takes less than a minute).

2. Pay the $50 entry fee. You will be directed to Columbia’s SecurePay website. Your entry will not be complete without the payment.

Deadline: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern

2024 Winner

photo of Olivia Carville

Olivia Carville of Bloomberg News was awarded the 2024 WERT Global Prize for a series of stories that masterfully drove home the many dangers of social media to the mental health and safety of young people.

With deep reporting and engaging storytelling that spanned the globe, Carville showed readers the devastating – and sometimes deadly – effect that online sexual exploitation, AI-generated deep fakes and addictive algorithms have on teenagers and young adults.

The judges cited the stories as eye-opening and memorable work that shines the light on how little is done to protect our children and young adults today.

Past Winners

2023

Hannah Dreier, The New York Times, for "Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S," which exposed a migrant child labor scandal involving some of the world’s largest corporations.

2022

Olivia Carville, Bloomberg, for "Airbnb’s Nightmare," which revealed how Airbnb's elite trust-and-safety team works to keep crime and safety violations at Airbnb properties out of the news. 

2021

Dana Mattioli, The Wall Street Journal, for “How Amazon Wins: By Steamrolling Rivals and Partners," on the company’s use of data and inside information to undersell competitors.

2020

Erika Fry, Fortune, for "Epidemic of Fear," on the tragic course of a vaccine against dengue fever.

2019

Lisa Girion, Reuters, for “Powder Keg," an investigation into Johnson and Johnson’s extensive knowledge of the existence of asbestos in its baby powder.
 

Questions?

Contact Amy Singer, deputy director, Knight-Bagehot Fellowship.