Winners include Bloomberg News, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The GW Hatchet and The Daily Pennsylvanian

John Diedrich of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks to the audience at the 2013 Institute on Political Journalism awards dinner. Diedrich has been awarded the Clark Mollenhoff Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting for the second year in a row with his Journal Sentinel colleagues.

For the second year in a row, reporters from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Bloomberg News took the top prizes in the Institute on Political Journalism annual journalism awards. Student reporters from The GW Hatchet and The Daily Pennsylvanian took top honors in the collegiate category.

The 2014 Excellence in Economic Reporting Award will be presented to a team of reporters from Bloomberg News for a seven-part series on the brave new world of “Big Data” software services. Lead reporter Aki Ito along with reporters Jeff Kearns,Craig Torres and Ilan Kolet explored how technology is transforming the economy, bringing about changes in hiring, spending and investment decisions-even the efficacy of Federal Reserve policy.

The 2014 Clark Mollenhoff Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting will be awarded to John Diedrich and Raquel Rutledge from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for their hard-hitting series “Backfire” which uncovered deep flaws and a profound lack of government oversight in undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stings across the country.

First place in the Institute on Political Journalism Collegiate Awards will go to reporterJeremy Diamond from George Washington University’s independent school newspaper, The GW Hatchet. Diamond won with three separate entries. The first story dealt with allegations that George Washington University (GW) officials misrepresented their admissions and financial aid polices for years. The other two entries looked at GW’s efforts to help veterans and the growing clout of fraternities on campus. The second place award will be given to Sarah Smith, a reporter from the University of Pennsylvania’s The Daily Pennsylvanian. Smith’s entry shed light on shortcomings of how the university handled students who say they have been victims of a sexual assault and who experience mental health problems, as well as the bureaucracy that students must navigate after an unexpected break in academic work due to the assault.

The recipients will receive their awards during a ceremony at the National Press Club on Friday, June 20 in Washington, D.C. The first place awards include a cash prize of $2,500 and a bronze eagle trophy. The Institute on Political Journalism (IPJ) is sponsored by The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), an educational nonprofit in Washington, D.C. The Institute is one of seven internship programs for college students administered in partnership with George Mason University.

For more information, on the awards and TFAS programs visit www.TFAS.org/IPJAwards or contact Joe Starrs at jstarrs@TFAS.orgor 202-986-0384.