The true value of the media can often be seen when tragedy strikes.
Such was the case last November when a fire at the Anderson Guest House took 11 lives. The coverage of the human toll taken by the disaster was complemented by some hard-hitting investigative reporting, and that work was honored Saturday night at the annual Kansas City Press Club Heart of America Awards Banquet.
The Joplin Globe's Derek Spellman and Melissa Dunson took first place in the print below 50,000 investigative reporting category with their extensive coverage of the fire and its aftermath. The judges wrote"
"Richly detailed reporting on how a fire in a group home traced to the state's negligence."
The Globe duo were not the only reporters to pick up the gold for their coverage of the Guest House fire. In the print over 50,000 investigative reporting category, Marcus Kabel, Alan Scher, and David A. Lieb of the Associated Press took first place. The judges wrote:
"Quotes carried these stories, paints a true picture of the horror"
(Note: This is not the first time an area reporter has been honored at the Kansas City Press Club for investigation into how Guest House owner Robert Dupont ran his business. Cait Purinton, working for the Lamar Press, won the only award that newspaper won during its 49-week existence with her detailed reporting about the violations at Dupont's various Guest Houses. Had the state or other local and regional media followed up on her investigative work, perhaps the Anderson Guest House fire would never have happened.)
Other area news outlets honored Saturday night included:
Television Above 100 Market, Newscast- 2. KYTV "Tornado Outbreak"
Television Above 100 Market, Breaking News- KYTV "Girl Thrown Over Bridge"
Television Above 100 Market, Spot News- Honorable Mention Michelle Sherwood, Doug Magditch, KYTV, "Cedar County Tornado"
Television Above 100 Market, General Reporting- Honorable Mention Michelle Sherwood, John VanDillen, KYTV, "Deadly Doses" Honorable Mention Angie Weidinger, KOLR-KSFX, "Outrageously Overdue"
Television Above 100 Market, Feature- Honorable Mention Michelle Sherwood, Jerrad McCulley "A Real Life Attraction: Gene Bortner"
Television Above 100 Market, Documentary- 2. Angie Weidinger, KOLR-KSFX, "Dirty Little Secret"
No comments:
Post a Comment