Several IRE members win 2015 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards

Congratulations to the several IRE members who recently were recognized with 2015 duPont-Columbia Awards. Their hard work and dedication to good investigative journalism helps keep the public informed and educated on important topics that affect their daily lives and communities.

Wendy Halloran, Mark Phillips, Bryan West and Mark Casey, along with colleagues at KPNX 12 News in Phoenix, for "Raked Over the Coals." The team doggedly pursued and refuted claims that the city’s arson squad had the highest arson clearance rate of any major U.S. city’s fire department.

Madeleine Baran, Mike Cronin, Tom Scheck and the team at MPR received recognition for "Betrayed by Silence." The yearlong investigation looked at sexual abuse and cover ups in the Twin Cities Catholic Church.

Robert Little and Barbara Van Woerkom and colleagues at NPR were honored for "Guilty and Charged." The series exposed a "hidden two-tiered system of justice and informal debtors prison."

Brian Boyer, Alyson Hurt and Wes Lindamood, along with their colleagues at NPR and Planet Money, were recognized for "Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt." As part of the online project, the team designed and sold T-shirts to look at how the clothing is made across four continents.

Adam Walser, Fran Gilpin and Doug Iten, along with colleagues at WFTS-TV in Tampa, were honored for "Incapacitated: Florida's Guardianship Program." The team uncovered abuse and fraud by court-appointed guardians.

Clark Fouraker of WLTX-TV in Columbia, South Carolina was recognized, along with his colleagues, for "DDS: When the System Fails." The investigative series looked at "harrowing failures" in the state’s Department of Social Services.

Noah Pransky and the WTSP 10 News team in Tampa Bay was honored for "Short Yellows and the Red Light Fight." The yearlong investigation exposed how local governments use technology to cheat drivers.

Learn more about the awards and winners on the Columbia Journalism School’s website.