Goldsmith Finalists

"This year's Goldsmith finalists represent not only resourceful and aggressive investigative reporting, but stories of vital importance to our nation," said Alex S. Jones, Director of the Shorenstein Center. "It is an honor to be honoring them."

The finalists for 2006 are:

1) Joshua Boak, James Drew, Steve Eder, Christopher D. Kirkpatrick, Jim Tankersley and Mike Wilkinson

The Blade (Toledo, OH)

"Uncovering 'Coingate'"

An inquiry into Ohio's curious investment in rare coins led to an investigation of what became a scandal of national dimensions, culminating in convictions of the Governor and others and exposure of illegal campaign contributions.

2) Marcus Stern and Jerry Kammer

Copley News Service

"Randy 'Duke' Cunningham"

Reporting by Stern and Kammer led to the resignation of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) after they revealed Cunningham had taken $2.4 million in bribes.

3) Evelyn Larrubia, Robin Fields and Jack Leonard

The Los Angeles Times

"Guardians for Profit"

Their series exposed how a new breed of entrepreneur has entered the field of guardianship of the elderly and have victimized older Americans by charging them exorbitant fees, neglecting their needs and sometimes looting their assets.

4) James Risen and Eric Lichtblau

The New York Times

"Domestic Spying"

The Times revealed that the government was systematically tapping into international telephone calls and e-mail traffic in the U.S. without court warrants.

5) Susan Schmidt, James V. Grimaldi and R. Jeffrey Smith

The Washington Post

"The Abramoff Scandal"

Throughout 2005, in articles that broke the scandal's major revelations, the Post unraveled Abramoff's web and his ties to then-House Majority Leader Tom Delay.

6) Dana Priest

The Washington Post

"The CIA's Secret War Against Terrorism"

Her series of articles have revealed the inner workings, successes and failures of the CIA's global effort to kill, capture and interrogate suspected terrorists, revealing the existence of a network of secret prisons outside the U.S.

A special citation will also be awarded to:

Nicholas D. Kristof

The New York Times

"The Genocide in Darfur"

Columnist Nicholas Kristof exposed the savagery plaguing Sudan that the world might not have otherwise seen. Through his dogged reporting, he is responsible for saving many thousands of lives.