{"id":25138,"date":"2020-02-20T10:10:39","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T10:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/?page_id=25138"},"modified":"2026-01-07T09:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:28:18","slug":"esserman-journalism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/esserman-journalism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Esserman Family Fund for Investigative Journalism"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Esserman Family Fund +
\nEsserman-Knight Journalism Awards<\/h1>\n

The Esserman Family Fund for Investigative Journalism<\/strong> honors and supports courageous local reporting and embodies the Esserman family\u2019s commitment to a more informed South Florida.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”About the Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”white” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-solid fa-award” css=”” add_icon=”true” link=”url:%23awards”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”Donate to the Fund for Investigative Journalism” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”white” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-solid fa-handshake-simple” css=”” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmiami.fcsuite.com%2Ferp%2Fdonate%2Fcreate%2Ffund%3Ffunit_id%3D3787|title:Give%20Now|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”More About Ronald and Charlene Esserman” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”white” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-solid fa-address-book” css=”” add_icon=”true” link=”url:%23Essermans”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1748555362823{padding-bottom: 2% !important;}”][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0Q3MjAlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0Q0MDUlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGMjVSTGFxRy12c0klM0ZzaSUzRHN5RExkc3NaWEI3ODE4eEElMjIlMjB0aXRsZSUzRCUyMllvdVR1YmUlMjB2aWRlbyUyMHBsYXllciUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMCUyMiUyMGFsbG93JTNEJTIyYWNjZWxlcm9tZXRlciUzQiUyMGF1dG9wbGF5JTNCJTIwY2xpcGJvYXJkLXdyaXRlJTNCJTIwZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhJTNCJTIwZ3lyb3Njb3BlJTNCJTIwcGljdHVyZS1pbi1waWN0dXJlJTNCJTIwd2ViLXNoYXJlJTIyJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNF[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]\n

About The Esserman Family Fund For Investigative Journalism<\/h2>\n

The Esserman Family Fund for Investigative Journalism honors and strengthens accountability reporting in South Florida by supporting reporters whose work has the power to change laws and lives.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1748613714820{margin-top: -30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]This initiative, created by Ronald and Charlene Esserman and their family, is a way to herald the importance of a free press and fortify journalism\u2019s crucial role in ensuring democratic freedoms. The Essermans believe that amplifying the voices of journalists and their courageous work will keep the community focused on injustice, suppression, and corruption and galvanize us to stand up for change.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1748614173638{padding-bottom: 5% !important;}” el_id=”awards”][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”3″ css=”.vc_custom_1748613885000{padding-bottom: 5% !important;}”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”41745″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”none” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]\n

About the Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards<\/h2>\n

The Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards<\/strong> celebrate and encourage outstanding investigative and public service reporting in South Florida and strive to foster a community that cares deeply about local news.<\/p>\n

Beginning in 2026, the awards also recognize exceptional local community reporting and college and graduate student journalism that serve South Florida and strengthen public understanding of critical issues.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nominations for the 2026 award season will open on January 15, 2026.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=””]Entries should serve the public by holding the powerful to account, shining a light on a pervasive or underreported community problem, or breaking new ground on an issue. The submissions are judged by the quality of analysis and storytelling, the rigor of newsgathering, the inclusion of community voices, and the impact on public understanding or action. Jurors include highly experienced professional journalists, members of the community and the Esserman family.<\/p>\n

The awards are by nomination only. Self nominations are not accepted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For further information, please consult our frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/a> or email essermanknight@miamifoundation.org<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” style=”outline” shape=”square” color=”black” align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmiamifoundation.org%2Fesserman-journalism%2Fesserman-knight-faqs%2F|title:FAQ|target:_blank”]