News Room | News Releases
12/21/11WFAA-TV Honored with an Eleventh duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for Excellence In Journalism
Dallas, Texas… WFAA has been honored with a 2011 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for investigative reporting. The duPont is considered the broadcast equivalent of print journalism’s famed Pulitzer Prize. The 2011 recognition represents the stations’ eleventh duPont Award, and tenth Silver Baton. In 2009, WFAA became first local television station to receive a Gold Baton, which is regarded as the most prestigious of the duPont-Columbia Awards.
The Belo Corp. owned, Dallas-Fort Worth ABC affiliate, was honored with a duPont for an News 8 Investigates series of reports entitled “Bitter Lessons,” presented by senior reporter Byron Harris, producer Mark Smith, photographer/editor Billy Bryant and VP/news, Michael Valentine. Harris, Smith and Valentine have been honored in the past with multiple duPonts, George Foster Peabody and Edward R. Murrow awards.
The nine-part News 8 Investigates series began in October 2010. It built on an earlier multi-part investigative series that aired in 2005. Harris’ reports revealed serious questions surrounding the multi-billion-dollar for-profit career school industry. It showed how several national career school chains targeted felons and the homeless, luring prospective students with the hope of possible high paying, life-changing careers. Harris, Smith and News 8 Investigates exposed the questionable practices schools used to recruit and train students, and uncovered a lack of state and federal oversight.
“It takes a commitment to present meaningful investigative journalism on a consistent basis these days,” said Mike Devlin, WFAA president and general manager. “In a tough economy, fewer and few local stations are committed to serious investigations. However, WFAA remains vigilant in dedicating the needed resources to provide viewers with these stories.” Valentine thanked the duPont judges for the recognition. “We are pleased to once again be honored for this kind of journalism,” he said. “Investigative journalism is important, and the foundation of what we do at WFAA. In 2011 this particular series has been honored with a Peabody, a National Edward R. Murrow Award, and now the duPont. While it is certainly gratifying to be singled out with all of these illustrious awards, positively impacting our community and directly affecting the lives of Texans is the most significant reward.”
Over a six year period, WFAA continued to report about questionable career school practices from information gathered by Harris and Smith, despite repeated legal threats. The WFAA reports spurred Texas regulators to take action. The Texas Workforce Commission, which regulates career schools, has initiated tighter state regulations. The agency also conducted a statewide audit that led to the closure of more than a dozen programs and several schools. Several chains have been fined, and an accrediting agency is currently performing a review.
The duPont Awards, administered since 1968 by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, are considered to be the most influential broadcast journalism awards and the equivalent of the Pulitzer, which are also administered at the Journalism School.
###
WFAA is part of Belo Corp. (BLC), one of the nation’s largest pure-play, publicly-traded television companies, that owns and operates 20 television stations (nine in the top 25 markets) and their associated Web sites. Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and the CW, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households in 15 highly-attractive markets. Belo stations rank first or second in nearly all of their local markets. Additional information is available at www.belo.com or by contacting Dave Muscari, WFAA vice president/product development at 214-977-6490.
