Ursuline Academy congratulates Tara Copp ’92 on being named a recipient of the 2026 Lovejoy Award for Courage in Journalism, recognizing courageous and impactful reporting. Presented by Colby College, the award celebrates journalists whose work demonstrates exceptional persistence, integrity, and commitment to keeping the public informed.

Ms. Copp, a national reporter for The Washington Post covering military and national security issues, was selected alongside fellow Pentagon Press Corps journalists Helene Cooper of The New York Times and Phil Stewart of Reuters. Colby College recognized the trio for their tenacity and perseverance in reporting on the Pentagon and for their dedication to ensuring government accountability through challenging and often complex coverage.

A longtime investigative journalist, Ms. Copp joined The Washington Post in 2025 after covering the Pentagon for the Associated Press and serving as Pentagon bureau chief for Military Times. Her distinguished career has included reporting throughout the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, as well as service as a senior defense analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office. She was also among the original reporters embedded in Iraq at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Read more about the award.

^{Tara Copp '92 visited campus to speak with journalism students in Spring 2026.}