The Panama Papers investigation has this week received the William Brewster Styles Award and it is the fourth major American Journalism prize. The papers have got the award for Business, Economic reporting from Scripps Howard Foundation.

According to PR Newswire, the Scripps Howard Awards celebrate excellence in journalism during 2016 in 17 categories, with prize money of $180,000. The winning journalists and news outlets demonstrated courage and integrity. The Panama Papers stories should have resulted in long time impact, at the same time enacted new laws and deceptive government practices, and saved lives.

The series, which illuminated offshore tax havens and shook up politicians around the world, was coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, at the time a project of the Center for Public Integrity. The Styles Award also recognized McClatchy newspapers and the Miami Herald, who were partners in the project.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has reported, the Herald and more than 100 media partners collaboratively to investigate a trove leaked documents from inside Mossack Fonseca. This is a law firm in Panama that sells offshore companies and other complex corporate structures.

The judges from the award committee noted that the Panama Papers project exposed offshore hideaways tried to megabanks, bribery scandals, drug kingpins and network people close to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Besides this, the judges also noted since the probe "governments and corporations in 79 countries have opened at least 150 inquiries, audits, and investigations"

However, the Scripps Howard Awards celebrates excellence in journalism in a total of 17 categories. The Scripps Howard Foundation is the philanthropic is the philanthropic arm of the E.W Scripps Company. In this year apart from Panama Papers others winner included Pro Publica, The Atlanta Journal-constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Oregonian and the East Bay Times.

Meanwhile, the Panama Papers series has previously been honored with an Editor and publisher award. They have also awarded with Barlett and Steele award.

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