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July 1, 2020
Four journalists, targeted by extremist groups in retaliation for their reporting, are recipients of the 2020 Don Bolles Medal from Investigative Reporters and Editors for their courageous commitment to exposing the truth about this element of American society.
The Don Bolles Medal recognizes investigative journalists who have exhibited extraordinary courage in standing up against intimidation or efforts to suppress the truth about matters of public importance.
Investigative journalists Chris Ingalls, Jeremy Jojola and A.C. Thompson each became the subject of efforts to intimidate them and their families for their reporting. Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., known for his commitment to shining the spotlight on extremism in America, also was targeted.
“These four amazing journalists epitomize the essence of this award,” IRE Board President Cheryl W. Thompson said. “The threats of violence and intimidation they and their families faced from extremist groups are things that no one should have to deal with just to do their job.”
In February 2020, federal authorities announced that they had arrested several members of a white supremacist group, known as the Atomwaffen Division, for their efforts to intimidate journalists.
Court records indicated that one Atomwaffen leader said in a recorded message, “We must simply approach them with nothing but pure aggression. We cannot let them think they are safe.”
A.C. Thompson, a reporter for ProPublica and correspondent for PBS Frontline’s “Documenting Hate” films, was the target of a swatting effort by the group, prosecutors say. New York police responded to ProPublica’s offices after receiving a call that there was a pipe bomb, a hostage and a dead body inside. Prosecutors say Atomwaffen made another false report to send police to Thompson’s home, claiming he was armed and had just killed his wife.
Chris Ingalls of King 5 in Seattle, who has reported on Atomwaffen’s “hate camps” in Washington state, was forced to leave his home with his wife and children on the recommendation of federal authorities who received information that Atomwaffen planned to pay them a visit. He later received a mailing sent to his home that warned ‘you’ve been visited by your local Nazis,” adding “death to pigs.”
Leonard Pitts Jr., who has reminded his readers that “the refusal to take a stand is a stand in itself,” was also the target of a swatting attack by Atomwaffen, prosecutors say. Police ordered Pitts out of his house, forced him to his knees and handcuffed him while they investigated a call claiming that his wife or another person was “being murdered” inside the home.
Jeremy Jojola of 9News in Denver, who reported on local neo-Nazis and a group known as the Proud Boys, was targeted by extremists who visited his home when his wife and child were there alone, court records show. One Proud Boy member threatened Jojola in a tweet that warned: "You are the enemy of the American people we will bring this to your home your work your child's school. The way antifa does to us. … The fury of America is upon you and your communist friends."
Former IRE Board member Phil Williams, who has spearheaded the nomination process for the Don Bolles Medal, said the selection of these four journalists sends an unmistakable message.
“We stand arm in arm with our fellow journalists in their courageous reporting on hate in America,” Williams said. “We are their insurance policy.”
The Don Bolles Medal was created in 2017 in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Arizona Project, an effort led by IRE to finish the work of Don Bolles. The Arizona Republic investigative reporter was killed in 1976 by a car bomb in retaliation for his reporting.
Bolles’ death came a few days before the first national IRE conference in Indianapolis, where the veteran reporter had been scheduled to speak on a panel. At the time, Bolles had been investigating allegations of land fraud involving prominent politicians and individuals with ties to organized crime.
After his murder, nearly 40 journalists from across the country descended on Arizona to complete his investigation. News organizations across the country published their findings.
Their message: Even if you kill a reporter, you can’t kill the story.
June 30, 2020
Cheryl W. Thompson of NPR will serve another year as IRE’s board president, the full board decided unanimously today during a livestreamed video meeting. Thompson, IRE’s first African-American president, has served in the role during the past two years. She is in her sixth year on the IRE board.
The board also elected other members of the Executive Committee for one-year terms:
During a month-long online voting process that concluded June 20, IRE members elected seven candidates to the board, including three Black members, increasing representation to a total of four. In addition, women hold a majority for the second consecutive year on the 13-member board.
Following the announcement of election results, the newly constituted board elected officers on June 20. The process resulted in an all-white Executive Committee. On June 24, the Executive Committee announced that all five members would resign to pave the way for a new election of officers.
Board members are elected by IRE members for two-year terms: seven seats during even-numbered years and six seats in odd-numbered years. There are no term limits for board members. Each year, the full board votes on one-year terms for its Executive Committee: president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and an at-large member.
June 29, 2020
IRE recently awarded eight fellowships to upcoming Data Journalism Bootcamps thanks to the generosity of financial supporters. Recipients will either attend the August Online Data Journalism Bootcamp or the January 2021 Data Journalism Bootcamp. IRE is fortunate to have funding available to provide fellowships for financial assistance.
Alexia Fernandez Campbell from the Center for Public Integrity, Kaylee Tornay from Mail Tribune (Medford, Oregon) and Andrea Perdomo from WGCU Public Media (Ft. Myers, Florida), received the Ottaway Fellowship.
Established by David Ottaway and the Ottaway Family Fund, the Ottoway Fellowship is aimed at increasing the diversity of IRE’s membership.
Ramon Galindo from KNSD-TV (San Diego, California) and Archith Seshadri from Nexstar Media Group, received the Knight TV Data Fellowship.
The Knight TV Data Fellowship is funded by the Knight Foundation to strengthen data watchdog skills at local TV stations across the United States.
Carter Walker from LNP Media Group received the Total Newsroom Training Fellowship.
Total Newsroom Training (TNT) Fellowships are open to those who have completed two days of TNT training.
Samantha Hogan from Pine Tree Watch/Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting and Liz Owens from WRDW/WAGT-TV (Augusta, Georgia), received the R-CAR Fellowship.
Established by IRE member Daniel Gilbert, the fellowship is intended to provide rural reporters with training they might not otherwise receive. The fellowship is offered in conjunction with the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky.
If you are interested in applying for a fellowship for financial assistance for future IRE boot camps, sign up to receive IRE’s newsletter about fellowship opportunities.
June 26, 2020
The IRE Board of Directors will elect its new Executive Committee members during a livestream video meeting at 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday (June 30).
Registration is required. You may sign up at this link. Afterward, the meeting video will be posted online.
Any contested seats on the Executive Committee will be decided by a roll-call vote, replacing the secret ballot used in the past to select officers. After the election of officers, a brief public comment period will be held for viewers. Speakers will be required to comply with IRE’s Code of Conduct.
All five members of the Executive Committee announced June 24 that they would resign to allow a new election of officers. The decision followed an initial election, at the board reorganization meeting on June 20, that resulted in an all-white Executive Committee. The result “left us heartbroken and frustrated,” the committee said of the initial election, in which it was unclear what positions were available and who was running for which offices. “This result contradicts IRE’s mission," the committee added. "Our Bylaws, which require an immediate vote, set up a rushed process that contributed to this outcome.”
During online voting that concluded June 20, IRE members elected one of the most diverse boards in its 45-year history. Seven members were elected to the board, including three Black members, increasing representation to a total of four. In addition, women hold a board majority for the second consecutive year on the 13-member board.
Board members are elected by IRE membership for two-year terms: seven seats during even-numbered years and six seats in odd-numbered years. Each year, the full board votes on one-year terms for its Executive Committee: president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and an at-large member.
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