Big news for KHOU 11 today. The TEGNA station has won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.
The prestigious award recognizes excellence in broadcast, digital and documentary journalism.
The KHOU investigative department was recognized for something I told you about last year.
WATCH: The TRANSPARENCY documentary
Reporter Jeremy Rogalski and team produced “Transparency,” which was a digital-first investigation that exposed the lack of accountability and the improper use of police body cameras in the city of Houston.
"Very humbled by today’s announcement that 'Transparency,' our four-month investigation into the Houston Police body camera program, earned the Alford I. duPont-Columbia University Award, the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize," Rogalski posted on Facebook.
"I'm proud of this body of work on so many levels, in particular that it was a digital-first investigation," KHOU President & General Manager Susan McEldoon told mikemcguff.com. "It’s a perfect example of the positive impact local journalism has on its community."
According to TEGNA, the four-month investigation revealed the Houston Police Department failed to release timely footage for criminal cases and declined to conduct promised video audits. In response to the documentary, the Houston police chief immediately addressed the camera technology issues and pledged to discipline any officers who fail to activate cameras when required.
Here is the award listing:
Transparency
This innovative long-form report, based on a four month-investigation of the Houston PD’s $8 million body camera program, revealed its many weaknesses, including hundreds of cases with missing footage, major delays in releasing videos, and a general lack of accountability.
Credits:
Jeremy Rogalski, Investigative Reporter;
Keith Tomshe, Investigative Photojournalist;
Stephanie Kuzydym, Investigative Producer;
Ty Scholes, Investigative Producer;
Matt Keyser, Digital Producer;
Ellen Crooke, Vice President News.
TEGNA is the only local broadcast group to receive two silver batons for investigative reporting.
KARE 11 in Minneapolis also took home the prize.
“Like many of our TEGNA stations, KARE and KHOU have produced incredibly meaningful work that impacts the lives of many. Their projects are strong examples of the positive impact of local journalism on communities and the importance of storytelling for the public interest,” said Dave Lougee, president and CEO, TEGNA. “We are committed to continuing to invest in our local stations to ensure they have the journalistic freedom to pursue investigations that make communities stronger without bias or agenda.”
Both stations will be recognized in an awards ceremony hosted by some of the country’s leading broadcast journalists on January 16, 2018, at Columbia University’s Low Memorial Library.
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award recognizes excellence in broadcast, digital and documentary journalism.
See other 2018 duPont Winners
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