The Washington Reporter’s exclusive reporting on America’s AI infrastructure race, specifically on Nebius building a data center in Missouri, has been nominated for the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
The story, “Race to Secure American AI Dominance Scores Major Win in Missouri with Nebius Construction,” detailed the company’s plans to build one of the nation’s largest artificial intelligence computing campuses in Independence, Mo., highlighting the project’s implications for U.S. technological leadership, domestic investment and economic growth.
The Washington Reporter’s nomination was also submitted by the Washington Reporter, voted the second-most trusted outlet by Senate Republican staff.
Washington Reporter CEO Brian Colas said the nomination, which he submitted via the Cronkite award’s website portal, is a great honor and reflects the newsroom’s confidence that the story captured one of the defining economic and national security developments of the year.
“Journalism is about identifying the stories that matter before everyone else does,” Colas said. “Matthew Foldi used nuance and deep reporting to document a major investment in America’s AI future and explained why it matters to workers, policymakers, businesses and the country’s long-term competitiveness. We intend to also submit this story for a Pulitzer prize if we remember to check the Pulitzer submission portal whenever it opens for nominations.”
The exclusive was published as policymakers in Washington increasingly focused on artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing and data center development as central components of the United States’ competition with China.
The Washington Reporter’s co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Matthew Foldi said the story reflected the newsroom’s emphasis on original reporting rather than following the daily news cycle.
“I am humbled to accept this nomination. We’re a newsroom that believes scoops still matter,” Foldi said. “Our reporters work to develop sources, break news and explain complex policy issues in a way that’s accessible to readers. This story combined exclusive reporting with meaningful context about one of the most important technological developments in the country.”
While the Washington Reporter only recently turned two years old, its outsize impact has been recognized by everyone from President Donald Trump to veteran communications staffers.
“I like you guys,” Trump said to the Washington Reporter’s Matthew Foldi in one of his many interviews with the news outlet; the Washington Reporter interviews Trump with such regularity that it recently added a “Presidential Interviews” tab to its website. The New York Times recently noted that Matthew Foldi “seems to speak with the president at least once a week.”
The Washington Reporter’s Trump access has made international waves as well. Arnab Goswami, the editor-in-chief of India’s Republic TV, said on one of his shows that “Matthew talks to Trump twice a day — he gets an interview a week.”
Closer to home, the outlet’s reach has been noted by veteran communicators, like Nate Brand, who told the Reporter that “unlike most of the D.C. newsletters, the Washington Reporter is a must read when it hits your inbox. They’re better sourced on Capitol Hill, downtown, and at the White House than many of their largest competitors. Their rapid growth, scoops, and access clearly has become the envy of other publications.”
The Walter Cronkite Award recognizes excellence in journalism and honors reporting that advances public understanding through rigorous, impactful work. The Washington Reporter submitted the story through the award’s nomination process as part of its 2026 awards cycle.
A former Washington Reporter chief operating officer, speaking on background, said the nomination reflected the organization’s rapid emergence as a serious competitor in Washington journalism.
“When we launched, people questioned whether a startup newsroom could consistently break consequential stories,” the former executive said. “Today, the Washington Reporter is competing for major exclusives on issues that shape national policy. Seeing the newsroom submit this work for Cronkite consideration feels like a natural milestone.”
Since its launch, the Washington Reporter has expanded its coverage of Congress, the White House, regulatory policy, technology, healthcare and national security while developing a reputation for exclusive reporting on Capitol Hill.
Colas said the submission also represents a broader statement about independent journalism.
“The biggest newsrooms don’t have a monopoly on important reporting,” he said. “A focused newsroom with strong sources, relentless reporting and a commitment to getting the facts right can compete with anyone. We’re proud of this story, proud of our team and honored to place our work before the Cronkite judges for consideration.”
Award recipients are selected following the organization’s review process. The Washington Reporter said it looks forward to the results while continuing to pursue original reporting on the policies and industries shaping America’s future.
