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Legal News

: Lawbeat

IRE winners include "Mississippi Cold Case"

By Mark Obbie

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Investigative Reporters & Editors announces its prestigious awards, and legal reporting, as usual, plays a prominent part. Reviewing the list of medalists and certificate winners and finalists always cures me (at least temporarily) of the blues, when I'm down about the prospects for news organizations of all sizes to support important, enterprising, and resource-intensive journalism. There's good work going on all over.Notable legal-reporting winners, with IRE's judges' comments:The IRE medal: "Mississippi Cold Case" — MSNBC; David Ridgen, Michael Hannan, Brad Clarke, Judith Greenberg, Scott Hooker

Judges' comments: This compelling documentary was aired by MSNBC and produced by David Ridgen of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The piece impressed the judges for its creative vision, thorough reporting and dramatic results. By literally digging up the past, following every lead and hounding key witnesses and participants, the producer showcased how original investigative reporting can solve cases. And by stirring up the interest of federal prosecutors, the piece also led to the prosecution of a key perpetrator of a long-forgotten murder of two African American men in 1964. By highlighting the emotional journey of the victim's brother, the film told a story of reconciliation that gave larger meaning and context to the investigation. The medal was awarded for the originality of the work and the use of old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting.

An IRE certificate in the small-newspaper category: The Wait of Conviction -- The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle; Sandy Hodson

Judges' comments: This investigation uncovered the fact that many of the people convicted of serious crimes in Richmond County, Georgia, were not able to appeal their cases. By obtaining and reviewing hundreds of cases from a ten-year period, the reporter not only discovered a miscarriage of justice, but also affected change: the local judges responded with a promise to solve this serious problem. The piece was unique in that it focused on the administration of the justice system, not just the results of that system.

And, perhaps most encouraging of all, an IRE finalist in the student category is the University of Maryland's Capitol News Service, and reporter Anju Kaur, for reports on Maryland's flawed attorney-discipline system.Congratulations to all.

Full post as published by Lawbeat on March 26, 2008 (boomark / email).