/ 12.19.2012 05:28PM
WXYZ Wins duPont-Columbia Award
Scripps Detroit affiliate recognized for reporting
CINCINNATI -- WXYZ, the Scripps affiliate in Detroit, has earned the Alfred I.
duPont-Columbia Award, one of the television industry’s highest honor in journalism.
The honor recognizes the community-changing success of “Wayne County
Confidential: Government Run Amok,” WXYZ’s years-long investigative series
focused on politics in Wayne County, Mich.
Investigative
journalists Heather Catallo and Ross Jones broke the story of former Wayne
County Economic Development Director Turkia Mullin’s $200,000 secret severance
package. Their investigations also revealed other secret severance deals, a political
machine fueled with county resources and global travel for county officials
funded by secret donors.
The
reports by WXYZ led to an FBI investigation, a series of indictments, criminal
charges, resignations, firings and stronger ethics rules.
Also
honored for their work on the series were Randy Lundquist, editor, and
photographers Ramon Rosario and Johnny Sartin. Ann Mullen is the executive
producer of WXYZ’s investigative unit.
“We
are very proud of the ongoing efforts by WXYZ to make a lasting and positive
impact for the people of Detroit,” said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of
television for Scripps. “This award-winning investigation goes right to the
core of our mission to enlighten, reflect and improve communities through
enterprise journalism.”
The
award will be presented to WXYZ Jan. 22, 2013 at Columbia University in
New York City.