By Sonni Efron
Molly Ball of Time Magazine has won the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress from the National Press Foundation. Judges honored her coverage of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Chris Marquette of CQ Roll Call received honorable mention for reporting on the opaque operations of the Capitol Police.
The Dirksen Award was created in 1980 in honor of the late Republican senator from Illinois. It recognizes journalists whose work shows thoughtful appraisal and insight into the workings of the U.S. Congress.
Ball had written a 2018 cover story on Pelosi for Time Magazine, but dug still deeper in 2020 to give readers insight into the enigmatic and powerful Speaker. Among other insights, Ball illuminated the thinking behind Pelosi’s decision to proceed with impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. In May, Ball published a book titled “Pelosi.”
Ball’s award winning work:
‘We’ve Upped the Ante.’ Why Nancy Pelosi Is Going All in Against Trump
‘Our Work Is Not Finished.’ Nancy Pelosi Is Trying to Save America’s Economy—Again
How Nancy Pelosi Saved the Affordable Care Act
“Molly Ball has consistently been the authoritative voice on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most consequential Democrat in Congress and also one of the least understood,” said judge Jon Sawyer. “Reading Ball, you get a vivid sense of what drives Pelosi and the way she wields her power. You see the person in full.”
“Molly Ball’s reporting is comprehensive and compelling,” said judge Terence Samuel of NPR. “Her work on Nancy Pelosi has the feel of being the final word on the subject.”
“Molly Ball’s exhaustive reporting showed the Nancy Pelosi most Americans don’t see- the master tactician whose behind-the-scenes work is far more nuanced than what is seen from her press conferences and public meetings,” said judge Susan Milligan of U.S. News & World Report. “Ball showed an unseen side not just of Pelosi herself, but the office of the Speakership.”
The judges awarded Marquette an honorable mention for his reporting on the notoriously opaque Capitol Police force, which is charged with the safety of Congress, its members, staff and visitors, as well as the surrounding area of Capitol Hill. As part of the Legislative Branch, the force is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Marquette mined other sources to reveal a disturbing pattern of officer misconduct that was met with light punishment from police management.
The Dirksen award carries a cash prize of $5,000. Previous winners of the award can be found here.
