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“The winners of the 2022 IRE Awards reflect the undeniable tenacity of journalists working day in and day out to hold powerful people and systems accountable,” said Barbara Rodriguez, chair of the IRE Awards contest committee. “Through a combination of narrative storytelling, data and compelling visuals, many of the entries this year put a spotlight on the lives of everyday people and showed the public the high stakes of policy choices on those lives. This year we also saw newsrooms fight hard to uncover information that some officials attempted to keep hidden. There were also efforts to keep journalists safe in dangerous conditions — and honor their legacy posthumously. Congratulations to the winners and finalists.”
This year’s winners were selected from more than 400 entries. The awards, given since 1979, recognize the most outstanding watchdog journalism of the year. The contest covers 19 categories across media platforms and a range of market sizes.
Note: You must be logged in with your IRE membership to access stories through the resource center.
Judges’ comments: For its steadfast efforts to protect the sources of investigative reporter Jeff German, The Las Vegas Review-Journal receives an IRE Special Citation. Soon after German’s shocking slaying in September 2022, the management and staff of the Review-Journal began taking legal action, including a court order, to stop law enforcement and others from searching the reporter’s personal devices that could reveal confidential sources and put them at risk of retaliation. As part of an ongoing legal battle, the Review-Journal has valiantly argued in court filings that the information kept on German’s devices are protected under Nevada’s shield law, the First Amendment and the state constitution. For their efforts to protect press freedom that has ramifications beyond their newsroom, IRE honors the Las Vegas Review-Journal with a special citation.
For collaborative efforts to relentlessly seek public records after one of the deadliest school shootings in American history, a coalition of media organizations is awarded an IRE Special Citation. Following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, government officials refused to provide the public with critical information, including about the law enforcement response. In the face of obfuscation, a group of journalists, lawyers and families launched an extraordinary effort to obtain information. To date, they have filed hundreds of requests for information and filed lawsuits to force the state to release records. Collectively, this work — which led to the release of surveillance footage and body camera recordings, among other records — has greatly influenced the public's perception of the Uvalde shooting, challenged preconceptions and revealed crucial truths. Their significant collaboration stands as a testament to the potential when newsrooms covering stories of key public significance eschew competition and work together, including with victims seeking the truth. IRE is proud to offer them a special citation.
“Foreign Servants,” The Washington Post, Craig Whitlock and Nate Jones
Judges’ comments: Judges commended this piece for its adherence to the but/for component of investigative reporting: but for the successful use of FOIA in the reporting from beginning to end, the facts this story uncovered would not have come to light. It’s a revelatory investigation that gave a lot of context as well as implications for national security. Whitlock and Jones were able to show information the average person could likely never otherwise have come across.
"Putin's Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes," The Associated Press and FRONTLINE, Erika Kinetz, Tom Jennings, Sasha Stashevskiy, Annie Wong, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Michael Biesecker, Beatrice DuPuy, Sarah El Deeb
With contributors: Sharon Lynch, Carla Borras, Anthony DeLorenzo, Dan Nolan, Richard Lardner, Helen Wieffering, Larry Fenn, Jason Dearen, Priyanka Boghani, Aasma Mojiz, Miles Alvord, Joshua Goodman, Juliet Linderman, Taras Lazer, Maddie Kornfield, Adam Pemble, Allen Breed, Solamiia Hera, Janine Graham
Judges’ comments: Extraordinary reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that painstakingly documented visual evidence of war crimes and told heartbreaking stories about those impacted by those crimes. Under dangerous conditions, this team of journalists created an interactive database and provided on-the-ground reporting in real-time, often from witnesses to these atrocities. The coverage, both poignant and emotional, shed light on likely violations of international humanitarian law and the laws of war.
"The Price Kids Pay," Chicago Tribune and ProPublica, Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune, Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica, Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune
Judges’ comments: Even though state law forbids schools from fining students for misbehavior, towns and cities across Illinois are levying monetary penalties for hallway fights, truancy, vaping and smoking, and other minor offenses. Worse, justice is uneven, Black students were twice as likely to be ticketed as their white peers. ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune documented these findings by creating a unique database built on hundreds of records requests and painstaking analysis, as well as shoe leather reporting and creative storytelling techniques.
"Child deaths at John Muir Health," San Francisco Chronicle, Matthias Gafni, Cynthia Dizikes, Dan Kopf
Judges’ comments: This is a stunning investigation into a California hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit that peeled back layers of an often complicated medical world to reveal serious concerns about the treatment of sick children. By merging hard-to-obtain data with emotional storytelling, journalists told heartbreaking stories of what happened to incredibly sick children and their families at the hands of an ill-equipped hospital.
"Broken Homes," San Francisco Chronicle, Joaquin Palomino, Trisha Thadani, Scott Strazzante, Lisa Gartner
Judges' comments: Inoperable elevators, rodent infestations, and a patchwork process for evictions. These are among the findings of an investigation that showed glaring systemic failings in how officials in San Francisco shelter its most vulnerable residents in dilapidated hotels. By compiling digestible data for the public and highlighting the difficult stories of impacted residents, journalists renewed attention to how the city is addressing the housing crisis.
"MIA: Crisis in the Ranks," The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Gambacorta, Barbara Laker, William Bender
Judges’ comments: This investigation was both compelling and outright infuriating, exposing how a growing number of Philadelphia police officers abused a state disability benefit to take leave while the city experienced record levels of gun violence. Reporters combined data analysis with on-the-ground reporting to produce work that had an unmistakable impact. One judge called it “the best kind of investigative reporting” – striking so much fear in the people who need to be held to account that they immediately change their ways.
"Dangerous Dwellings," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Alan Judd, Willoughby Mariano, Johnny Edwards, Jennifer Peebles, Eric Fan, Lois Norder
Judges' comments: This searing exposé gave voice to thousands of residents - mostly people of color - stuck living in horrific conditions at hundreds of persistently dangerous apartment complexes in Atlanta. The scale and scope of this investigation were truly impressive, revealing how state law makes it almost impossible to hold predatory owners to account while they rake in massive federal subsidies. Reporters showed how private equity and other investors are drawn to a business model that has painfully real impacts on how people live.
"Eavesdropping in Maine Jails," The Maine Monitor
Judges' comments: An exhaustive investigation revealed a disturbing violation of state law and federal constitutional rights. The Maine Monitor punched above its weight with this series of stories.
"Big Poultry," The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer, Gavin Off, Adam Wagner, Ames Alexander
Judges’ comments: This series shows in graphic detail the human and environmental cost of the rapid expansion of the poultry industry in North Carolina. The articles also show that the state intentionally keeps its citizens in the dark and fails to protect them from powerful companies that control every aspect of poultry farming. Caught in the middle of this are the contract farmers who are taking on massive debts to build and equip their farms, only to learn that the companies can take away or limit their access to income almost at a whim. In addition to strong reporting based on interviews and limited documentation, the journalists created a unique map showing the locations of virtually every poultry operation in the state, despite state laws that shield their locations.
"Security for Sale," The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer
Judges' comments: Judges praised the fact that while this story is very much localized, it’s about a topic with national importance and implications. The investigation found that, in the space of a decade, corporate landlords had gone from owning nearly zero houses in North Carolina to owning more than 40,000. Superb mapping work combined with human narratives made the story both readable and compelling.
"101 East - Forced to Scam: Cambodia’s Cyber Slaves," Al Jazeera English, Mary Ann Jolley, David Boyle, Shaun Turton
Judges’ comments: This is shocking reporting by a team that put themselves at extraordinary risk to get the story. ‘Cambodia’s Cyber Slaves’ exposed large-scale trafficking, torture, and enslavement inside the country’s massive scam industry, which is connected to the highest levels of government. This piece stood out because of the scope of the issues it raises related to human trafficking. The breadth of the reporting effort was also a key differentiator along with the widespread ramifications and far-reaching impact.
"Racism for Sale," BBC Africa Eye and BBC Eye
Judges' comments: Compelling storytelling and reporting on an incredibly important topic. The reporter went to impressive lengths for this story.
"Left for Dead: Hit, Run, and Ignored," NBC Chicago, Phil Rogers, Alex Maragos, Stefan Holt, Shelby Bremer, Katy Smyser, Nathan Halder, Lauren Stauffer, Akemi Harrison, Frank Whittaker, Kevin Cross, Courtney Copenhagen, Brian Moore, Reed Seiler, Calvin Tyler
Judges’ comments: Incredibly, this investigation found that more than 100 hit-and-run auto accidents occur in Chicago every day, and only a few of them are solved, even when police have evidence that could identify the culprits. The reporters effectively blended data, public records, interviews, and video to tell a compelling story. The station devoted enormous resources to this investigation and persevered despite the Chicago Police Department’s absolute refusal to cooperate.
"Disabled & Denied," WBFF-TV, Carolyn Peirce, Chris Papst, Dwayne Myers, Jed Gamber, Ray Rogowski
Judges’ comments: A moving series of stories that demands answers about the quality of education provided by Baltimore City Schools to some students with disabilities. The team exposed multiple examples of outright corruption, with contractors and the school system both stealing money by falsifying reports, all while hurting kids in the process. The stories combined touching personal narratives with dogged reporting and showed the profound impact that can come from sticking with a story.
"53 Days - Chuck's Story," WSAZ-TV, Kristen Bentley, Sarah Sager, Joseph Payton, Jay Melvin
Judges’ comments: Superb reporting on how the shortcomings of a West Virginia hospital had deadly consequences for an elderly man with dementia. By obtaining crucial video footage on the day the man disappeared, journalists provided a visual and heartbreaking story to audiences that showed what went wrong. The team was also relentless in seeking answers from top state officials.
"Death By Policy: Crisis in the Arizona Desert," Futuro Media Group, Julieta Martinelli, Roxanne Scott, Maria Hinojosa, Peniley Ramirez, Mitra Bonshahi
Judges’ comments: This story stood out for its on-the-ground reporting. This moving piece lived up to its title by showing how funneling migrants through environmentally dangerous areas led to their deaths. The team highlighted the border patrol’s attempt to take credit for the work that volunteers are doing. Embedding with the volunteer group in the desert was great reporting under physically difficult conditions.
"Missing Justice," CBS News
Judges' comments: This was an effective podcast entry for several reasons: it covers an underreported topic while making good use of audio; it examines the shortcomings in the justice system; and calls for congressional accountability.
"Overlooked," KCUR Studios and NPR’s Midwest Newsroom, Peggy Lowe, Steve Vockrodt, Dan Margolies, Mackenzie Martin, Suzanne Hogan, CJ Janovy, Lisa Rodriguez, Gabe Rosenberg
Judges’ comments: This is incredibly compelling storytelling on an important and long-overlooked story. The suspenseful storytelling puts the audience in the moment and left us wanting more. Several of the judges mentioned an eagerness to keep listening to discover how this white male police officer exploited Black women in the community – and how he was allowed to do it for decades. This was far and away one of the best entries in the competition!
"For two families, a Southern University education meant everything. Then came tragedy." LSU Manship News Service, Brittany Dunn, Drew Hawkins, Claire Sullivan, Shelly Kleinpeter, Annalise Vidrine, Adrian Dubose, Maria Pham, Allison Allsop, Alex Tirado
Judges' comments: Based on historical records and interviews, this is a sobering account of a deadly encounter between police and students during campus protests at Southern University in 1972, an encounter that left two young Black men dead and their families searching for answers. After 50 years, the questions and the stain remain. The students did an excellent job in recounting this painful event on their campus and its aftermath.
"Stanford president's research under investigation," The Stanford Daily, Theo Baker
Judges’ comments: The investigation into allegations of research misconduct by the president of Stanford sparked headlines across the country. That this series of stories was spearheaded by the campus paper would have been impressive on its own. But the 17-year-old, first-quarter freshman behind it deserves extra kudos for pursuing this explosive investigation despite alleged warnings by administration sources that his target could seek retaliation. A doggedly reported investigation with immediate impact, and a masterclass in holding the powerful to account.
"UC Berkeley swimmers allege coach Teri McKeever bullied and verbally abused them for years," Orange County Register, Scott Reid
Judges’ comments: The Orange County Register painstakingly illuminated the shocking actions of UC Berkeley swim coach, Teri McKeever, an international icon in her field. Her abuses are recorded in revealing on-the-record interviews with frightened, reluctant sources, some of whom spoke about suicidal thoughts and mental health consequences. The paper encountered considerable resistance from the university and other official sources. Ultimately, however, the coach lost her job.
"Massacre in Uvalde," San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle
Judges’ comments: In the immediate aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, this team of journalists sprang into action, delivering fast, accurate, and often exclusive breaking news. As multiple newsrooms simultaneously worked to cover one of the biggest stories of the year, staff from the Express-News and the Chronicle stood out for providing readers with an emerging timeline of what happened during the shooting, raising questions early on about law enforcement’s response.
"Russian Asset Tracker," Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Judges' comments: In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, governments around the world imposed sanctions on many of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s enablers, who hired armies of lawyers to hide their wealth in secretive bank accounts and offshore structures. Within four weeks of the start of the war, OCCRP and their partners compiled the largest public listing of verified assets that had taken years for oligarchs to hide.
"When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World’s Most Powerful Consulting Firm," Walt Bogdanich, Michael Forsythe
Judges' comments: Using tens of thousands of documents and hundreds of interviews, Bogdanich and Forsythe expose the many tentacles of consulting conglomerate McKinsey & Company. Before the journalists' work, little was known about McKinsey's clients that range from pharmaceutical companies to federal drug regulators to foreign governments. The dynamic storytelling kept us turning the page to find whose mess McKinsey was involved in next.
"The Price of Care: Taken by the State," ABC10, Andie Judson, Gonzalo Magaña, Rory Ward, Tyler Horst, Sabrina Sanchez, Mike Bunnell, Xavier Uriarte
Judges' comments: In a series of five reports, ABC10 Sacramento focused on abuses and neglect of disabled persons by the California state bureaucracy that controls their lives through conservatorships. Through the stories of victims, reporter Andie Judson detailed a system that ignored their interests and isolated them from their families. The reports were part of a two-year investigation by ABC10 widely credited with ensuing reform legislation.
"After Ayotzinapa," Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, National Security Archive, Adonde Media, Anayansi Diaz-Cortes, Kate Doyle, Taki Telonidis, Martina Castro
Judges' comments: An extraordinary exploration of the forced disappearances of college students in Mexico filled with inside information, public records, critical relationships with sources, clear and compelling storytelling, archive audio, creative approaches, significant results, and a disturbing window into corruption in Mexico fueled by drug cartels. “After Ayotzinapa” is a jaw-dropping chronicle of a horrendous crime and the lengths that Mexican authorities went to cover it up. Through journalistic persistence that spanned years and borders, “After Ayotzinapa” lands like a gut punch, holding powerful Mexican institutions and political figures to account.
"Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong," American Public Media, Emily Hanford, Christopher Peak, Catherine Winter, Chris Julin, Emily Haavik
Judges' comments: American Public Media presents an extraordinary example of investigative reporting at its best, with extensive use of documents, data, studies, sourcing, accountability, archive audio, and even a survey. The writing is clear and compelling, despite a complicated subject, and the use of archive audio accentuates the storytelling and gives the findings additional heft. The investigation addresses a subject critical to all parents: how do children learn to read, why are so many having difficulty, and why is the system that has been widely accepted failing to do the job for many? The result is a story focused on flaws in the public school system, and deeper questions about the operation and values of schools, and of private companies profiting from education. Emily Hanford’s reporting and presentation are testaments to journalistic and audio storytelling excellence.
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Contest entries are screened and judged by IRE members who are working journalists. Work that includes a significant role by any member of the IRE Contest Committee or the IRE Board may not be entered in the contest. Work in which board members did not play a significant editorial role can be entered. First-round screeners may not review categories in which their news organization could compete.
Serving on the Contest Committee represents a significant sacrifice on the part of the individual contest judge — and often an entire newsroom — that may have done outstanding investigative work.
This year’s contest judges:
To ensure fairness and transparency, some judges were not present during deliberations in specific categories due to potential conflicts of interest. They were:
IRE, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to training and supporting journalists who pursue investigative stories. IRE also operates the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR), a joint program with the Missouri School of Journalism.
For questions or concerns about the IRE Awards please contact Lauren Grandestaff, lauren@ire.org.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists inducted IRE Executive Director Diana Fuentes and three other journalists into the NAHJ Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Aug. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas.
The NAHJ Hall of Fame honors journalists who have served as pioneers and leaders in the journalism industry, mentored future generations of Latinx journalists and journalists of color in newsrooms nationwide, and changed how communities are represented in the mainstream media.
With more than 35 years of experience in journalism, Fuentes said she’s very fulfilled by her career, having covered major issues in the United States and Mexico, including illegal adoption rings on the border and undocumented migrants dealing with property sale scams.
“If people are suffering, you can report on the suffering and figure out why it’s happening,” she said, explaining the importance of the journalist in society. “We are reporting on the truth.”
Francisco Vara-Orta, a longtime mentee of Fuentes who currently serves as IRE Director of Diversity & Inclusion, said that her support was pivotal to him as a young Latinx, proudly Tejano journalist working at the Laredo Morning Times.
“She told me, ‘Francisco you have what it takes to go national someday,’” he said. “She was the first person in my life to say you have what it takes and you have something special.”
Since April 2021, Fuentes has served as the IRE’s executive director and is the first person of color and first woman to permanently hold this position. In this role, Fuentes oversees training in investigative and data analysis techniques and the development of conferences and programs like NICAR. She is also involved in efforts to improve the diversity of the organization and its leadership.
IRE member Rebecca Aguilar was also inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame this year. She is president of the Society of Professional Journalists, the first woman of color to hold that position since the organization’s founding in 1909.
Other 2022 inductees included Robert Hernandez, who teaches the practice of digital journalism through emerging technologies at USC Annenberg, and Steve Gonzales, a photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle who died in June 2022 and was honored posthumously.
This story was modified from one written by Anna Guaracao for Latino Reporter. For more details on each honoree, check out the original article: Meet the new NAHJ Hall of Fame inductees
The late Tom Torok, a pioneering data journalist whose sessions at NICAR and IRE conferences were among the most popular for years, will be one of the inaugural nominees inducted into the new IRE Ring of Honor next year.
A fundraising initiative that supports fellowships for investigative journalists, the Ring of Honor celebrates current and past IRE members who have made a significant contribution to the organization and to the field of investigative journalism.
Torok fills both requirements with ease.
He was a journalist for more than 40 years, working for seven newspapers, including The New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. At The New York Times, he created and managed the paper’s data journalism team, which helped bring home eight Pulitzer Prizes during his 13-year tenure. Previously, he was a columnist and reporter for 18 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was part of four teams that were Pulitzer-Prize finalists.
"Tom represents the best in the IRE and NICAR spirit, not only excelling at his own work, but he tirelessly helped others, generously teaching and sharing with others."
Andy Lehren, NBC News
After he retired in 2013, he focused on teaching across the United States and internationally, especially working with Ukrainian journalists.
During his career, he developed innovative data analysis programs that he freely shared with journalists everywhere and was an enthusiastic teacher with a lively sense of humor to the end. He died March 6, 2022, after a brief illness.
Torok was nominated by Andy Lehren of NBC News.
"Tom represents the best in the IRE and NICAR spirit, not only excelling at his own work, but he tirelessly helped others, generously teaching and sharing with others," Lehren said in making the nomination.
After a member is nominated for the honor, the IRE Board of Directors reviews the nomination. If the nomination is approved, friends and family launch a fundraising campaign in the nominee's honor. A minimum of $2,500 in donations must be raised for a nominee to be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Donors in support of Torok's nomination already have exceeded the minimum, but donations still are accepted.
The induction ceremony will take place at the awards luncheon at the IRE conference scheduled for June 22-25, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.
Tax-deductible donations to the Ring of Honor memorialize the legacy of these influential mentors and newsroom leaders while financially supporting the next generation of investigative journalists. Fellowships allow qualified recipients to access IRE benefits, such as attending conferences, participating in training and networking with other investigative journalists.
To nominate someone for the IRE Ring of Honor, fill out a short nomination form available under the "Donate" link on the IRE website.
For questions, send an email to Anna Lopez at anna@ire.org.
The late David Donald, an award-winning data editor and IRE training director, will be inducted into the new IRE Ring of Honor next year.
The Ring of Honor is a fundraising initiative that supports fellowships for investigative journalists. It celebrates current and past IRE members who have made significant contributions to the organization and to the field of investigative journalism.
"David could put anyone at ease and make them believe that, no matter how complicated something seemed, they could handle it."
Mark Horvit, former IRE executive director
Donald was known for his gentle wit and for imparting a sense of confidence about data journalism in his students and colleagues alike. He died in December 2016 after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 64.
After his time with IRE as a trainer, Donald became a data editor at the Center for Public Integrity and later at the Investigative Reporting Workshop. He also worked as a research and project editor at the Savannah Morning News in Georgia. During his career, he was a data journalist in residence at American University's School of Communication and taught at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and at Savannah State University. He was known as an "evangelist" of computer-assisted reporting.
"David could put anyone at ease and make them believe that, no matter how complicated something seemed, they could handle it," said Mark Horvit, former IRE executive director.
Donald's nomination was presented by Jennifer LaFleur of the Center for Public Integrity, and was supported by a large group known as "Friends of D Squared."
After a member is nominated for the honor, the IRE Board of Directors reviews the nomination. If the nomination is approved, friends and family launch a fundraising campaign in the nominee's honor. A minimum of $2,500 in donations must be raised for a nominee to be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Donors in support of Donald's nomination already have exceeded the minimum, but donations are still being accepted.
The induction ceremony will take place at the awards luncheon at the next IRE conference set for June 22-25, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
Tax-deductible donations to the Ring of Honor memorialize the legacy of these influential mentors and newsroom leaders while financially supporting the next generation of investigative journalists. Fellowships allow qualified recipients to access IRE benefits, such as attending conferences, participating in training and networking with other investigative journalists.
To nominate someone for the IRE Ring of Honor, fill out a short nomination form available under the "Donate" link on the IRE website.
For questions, send an email to Anna Lopez at anna@ire.org.
IRE Board President Mark Walker of the New York Times was reelected to the IRE Board of Directors on Saturday, along with six new board members: Lam Thuy Vo, independent journalist; Simone Weichselbaum, NBC News; Mark Greenblatt, Scripps Washington Bureau; Aaron Kessler, The Associated Press; Darla Cameron, Texas Tribune; and Kate Howard, Reveal.
The board will meet to elect officers within 30 days.
New members of the Contest Committee are Elaine Tassy of Colorado Public Radio and Lily Jamali of Marketplace.
Full election results for the Board of Directors:
| Rank | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Walker | 538 | 51.93 |
| 2 | Lam Thuy Vo | 536 | 51.74 |
| 3 | Simone Weichselbaum | 520 | 50.19 |
| 4 | Mark Greenblatt | 475 | 45.85 |
| 5 | Aaron Kessler | 468 | 45.17 |
| 6 | Darla Cameron | 463 | 44.69 |
| 7 | Kate Howard | 457 | 44.11 |
| 8 | Kiran Chawla | 431 | 41.60 |
| 9 | Todd Wallack | 418 | 40.35 |
| 10 | Fernando Diaz | 400 | 38.61 |
| 11 | John Kelly | 393 | 37.93 |
| 12 | Kyle Jones | 358 | 34.56 |
| 13 | Mark J. Rochester | 313 | 30.21 |
Full election results for the Contest Committee:
| Rank | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elaine Tassy | 241 | 28.62 |
| 2 | Lily Jamali | 215 | 25.53 |
| 3 | Jenifer McKim | 206 | 24.47 |
| 4 | Riley Gutiérrez McDermid | 141 | 16.75 |
| 5 | Andrew Ford | 128 | 15.20 |
| 6 | Mark Lagerkvist | 127 | 15.08 |
| 7 | Hyuntaek Lee | 120 | 14.25 |
| 8 | Maija Jenson | 88 | 10.45 |
| 9 | John Russell | 72 | 8.55 |
| 10 | George Lavender | 52 | 6.18 |
| 11 | Charles Lane | 45 | 5.34 |
| 12 | Mike Soraghan | 44 | 5.23 |
| 13 | Ted Sickler | 29 | 3.44 |
| 14 | Keith Kohn | 23 | 2.73 |
Steadfast unwillingness to release police bodycam footage in 2018 has earned the City of Huntsville, Alabama and its police department the 2022 Golden Padlock Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors. The award honors the most secretive government agencies in the U.S.
It would take three years, a murder trial, dogged media requests and a judicial order for the public to see the taxpayer-funded footage showing the fatal shooting of a suicidal man who called police on himself. When police arrived at the man’s home in 2018, he was sitting in his living room with what turned out to be a flare gun against his temple. A young officer entered the house, raised a shotgun and told the suicidal man to lower the gun from his head.
Seconds later, the officer shot the man in the face. The city refused to release the tape, reassuring the public it vindicated the officer. Three years later, after the city devoted $125,000 of public money to the officer’s criminal defense, the jury in the murder trial saw the footage and filed a guilty verdict. A judge finally released the footage to reporters in August 2021.
“In a year that featured a startling array of nominations detailing egregious acts of secrecy by governments across the country, this case stood out,” said Robert Cribb, chair of the IRE’s Golden Padlock committee which reviewed nominations from across the country. “This footage, created in the public interest, provided crucial details for a murder case. The intransigence showed by the city and police undermined the public’s right to know in ways that earned this honor.”
The committee also named four other finalists that exemplified the techniques of secrecy and obfuscation the award seeks to highlight.
The winner of the 2022 Golden Padlock Award was announced during the awards luncheon at the IRE22 conference in Denver. IRE invited Huntsville Mayor Thomas Battle and former Chief of Police Mark McMurray to Denver to accept the award, but received no response.
IRE's Don Bolles Medal for 2022 has been awarded to two Russian investigative journalists whose commitment to exposing corruption by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his regime led to them being forced to flee their homes to avoid imprisonment.
This year's recipients are Roman Anin, founder and editor of iStories, and Roman Badanin, founder and editor of Proekt. Both were subjected to raids of their homes in 2021, eventually forced to leave Russia in order to continue their investigative journalism.
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.
"Putin has not only attacked Ukraine, he has also declared war against journalism and the truth," said IRE President Mark Walker. "In recognizing Roman Anin and Roman Badanin, IRE stands with them and other Russian investigative journalists who have been targeted by the Putin regime. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists should never be treated as criminals."
In April 2021, Federal Security Service agents raided the home of Roman Anin, as well as the editorial offices of iStories ("Important Stories") in apparent retaliation for the news outlet's reporting on the inexplicable wealth of Igor Sechin, head of the state-owned oil company Rosneft. Anin was interrogated about iStories' use of Instagram photos showing Sechin's ex-wife aboard a yacht valued at up to $180 million.
Anin has also worked on cross-border investigations with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) since 2009.
The investigative journalist was out of the country on vacation when he got word that it was not safe for him to return to Russia.
"Some sources told me that there was a big risk if I came back, that they would arrest me on the border because this criminal case, the searches were just the pretext for a broader investigation against me," Anin said.
In June 2021, authorities raided the homes of Roman Badanin and other members of his Proekt team as they prepared to publish an investigation into corruption allegations surrounding Russia's interior minister.
Proekt became the first independent news organization to be labeled by the Russian government as "undesirable," forcing Badanin to seek refuge in the U.S.
Anin's iStories received that same branding earlier this year.
"To be undesirable in Russia is to be public enemy," Badanin said. "Any kind of activity of an undesirable organization on the ground in Russia is completely banned, and every person who collaborates with an undesirable organization in any form can go to prison – sometimes immediately."
Both men are now continuing their investigative reporting on Russia from outside the country.
Former IRE Board member Phil Williams, who has spearheaded the nomination process for the Don Bolles Medal, said the selection of Anin and Badanin is a statement of solidarity with them and other Russian investigative journalists.
"Putin is known for his 'long arm' reputation for silencing his critics," Williams said. "With the Don Bolles Medal, we send the signal that the world is watching."
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: Efforts to suppress the truth will be met by even greater efforts from the rest of the journalism community to tell it.
IRE is adding its voice to the growing movement to persuade The Pulitzer Prizes to make participating in an annual staff diversity survey a condition of seeking journalism’s highest honor.
The IRE Board of Directors unanimously approved signing a letter asking Pulitzer officials to begin the requirement in 2024. The letter has been signed by more than 175 journalism entities.
Most U.S. news organizations have refused to participate in the News Leaders Association survey year after year, showing a glaring lack of transparency about industry diversity that is particularly troubling in this time of racial reckoning.
"Investigative journalism purports to be about accountability and shedding light on inequities. Yet that lens of accountability is rarely turned inward within journalism," said IRE Vice President Kat Stafford. "Change is uncomfortable. But, frankly, this isn’t an issue any of us should be neutral on."
IRE believes, as do the other groups who have signed the letter, that requiring news organizations to participate in a diversity survey before they can enter the Pulitzer contest would be a strong incentive to provide the data necessary to effect real change.
Pulitzer Prizes officials have said their board members may consider it at summer meetings.
For more information, read this Poynter.org story.
IRE is proud to present two showcase panel discussions during the IRE22 conference in Denver, tackling important themes of leadership, cultural reckoning, and the power – and challenge – of newsrooms working together. Both panels will take place Friday, June 24, livestreamed for virtual attendees and recorded for later viewing.
"Kicking Glass" features a powerhouse panel of women in command of some of the most successful newsrooms, brands and investigative teams today.
What were their paths up the ladder to the leadership positions they hold today, and what are the biggest challenges they face now? How do these accomplished journalists of color guide their teams as they cover reckonings outside the building – while examining reckonings inside it? And how do you encourage culture shift among teams without inviting the criticism that you’re more activist than journalist?
Dawn E. Garcia, director of the JSK Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University, will moderate a discussion among these panelists:
"Kicking Glass" will take place from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MDT in room Colorado B.
"Banding together for truth," will take us behind the scenes of how 16 competing newsrooms teamed up to fight for access to videos of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
How did the media coalition that sued the government come to be, and has it set a precedent for future First Amendment battles? Hear from some of the esteemed journalists who took up the cause as they discuss the power of video to combat the denial of fact and address the question: Are we better together?
Pierre Thomas, chief justice correspondent for ABC News, will moderate a discussion among these panelists:
"Banding together for truth" is sponsored by ABC News and will take place from 5 - 6:15 p.m. MDT in room Colorado B.
Investigative Reporters and Editors has named its finalists for the 2022 Golden Padlock Award honoring the most secretive public agency or official in the U.S.
Drawn from a competitive crop of nominations across the country, five finalists were chosen for their extraordinary commitment to undermining the public’s right to know through delays, denials, court challenges and even surreptitious monitoring of journalists. Among the finalists is a government agency honored for hiding details of how parolees left unmonitored committed offenses including rape and murder. Another attempted to impose a 55-year timeframe for the release of COVID-19 drug approval documents. A third has denied documents from a “transparent” review of state election protocols ordered by a judge to be made public. A fourth targeted university journalism faculty investigating a major philanthropic donation to their school. Another fought for three years to deny public access to police bodycam footage in a fatal shooting that triggered a murder trial.
"The strict internal codes of silence at work in these cases are breathtaking," said Golden Padlock committee chair Robert Cribb. "These finalists offer a compelling reminder of the essential role investigative reporters play in unearthing hidden truths and revealing how public officials paid with public money to uphold the public trust can find their strongest motivation in self interest."
The finalists for the 2022 Golden Padlock Award are:
The winner of the 2022 Golden Padlock Award will be announced during the awards luncheon at the IRE22 conference on Saturday, June 25, in Denver.
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