Judges will evaluate each submission on three main criteria: investigative depth, public interest, and fairness and accuracy. Judges will grade submissions on a five-point scale in each category, tally the sum for a final score, and calculate the average. Each judge must cast their winning vote for the submission with the highest average score. Finalists will be determined based on each judge’s second and third-place stories. Judges will vote anonymously by emailing their completed ballot to YAF Vice President Jessica Jensen, who will independently ensure each vote is in compliance with Dao Prize rules. Jensen will then average the final scores for each applicant and provide the judgers with a list of total scores. Judges will deliberate, then email Jensen their final three highest scores if their decisions have changed. Jensen will remove each judge’s name from their ballot and send the scores back to judges, who will average those scores and determine the winners. Each judge will sign a document that names the winners in order. In the case of a tie, judges will enter another round of voting and continue until the tie is broken. All records, including minutes of the deliberations and every ballot, will be sealed and preserved. Judges will have no subsequent interaction with applicants in regard to their submissions outside the form itself, with the exception of logistical questions. A judge cannot vote for a story from their own news outlet, or for a story they worked on personally. Any outlet may submit up to three stories or series published from Jan. 1, 2022 through Sept. 1, 2023. All U.S.-based publications primarily dedicated to news are welcome to participate. This includes Substack pages, YouTube channels, and podcasts. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Nov. 1.